Kirsty Coventry was elected the novel pdwellnt of the International Olympic Committee Thursday.
Coventry, 41, becomes the first woman and first African named pdwellnt of the IOC.
“It is a signal that we are truly global,” Coventry said of her election.
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Kirsty Coventry reacts after she was proclaimd as the novel IOC pdwellnt at the International Olympic Committee’s 144th session in Costa Navarino, Greece, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Ptoastyo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Coventry, a two-time Olympic swimming gelderly medacatalog, won in the first round of voting among seven honestates voted on by 97 IOC members. Coventry gets an eight-year mandate that runs thraw 2033.
The voters in the exclusive askd club of IOC members integrate royal family members, createer laworiginaters and diplomats, business directers, sports officials and Olympic athletes.
It was not foreseeed a honestate would be elected in the first round. Several rounds were foreseeed. Coventry getd the exact presentantity of 49 vital votes.
Kirsty Coventry giggles during a press conference after she was elected the novel IOC pdwellnt at the International Olympic Committee’s 144th session in Costa Navarino, Greece, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Ptoastyo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Others in the running were four pdwellnts of sports handleing bodies: Track and field’s Sebastian Coe, skiing’s Johan Eliasch, cycling’s David Lappartient and gymnastics’ Morinari Watanabe. Also contending was Prince Feisal al Hussein of Jordan.
“I will originate all of you very, very haughty and hopebrimmingy innervously brave in the decision you have apshown,” Coventry said in her acunderstandledgeance speech. “Now we have got some toil together.”
Coventry was Zimbabwe’s sports minister, and friendly IOC pdwellnt Thomas Bach had backd for her to be his successor.
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IOC Pdwellnt Thomas Bach helderlys up the name of Kirsty Coventry as she is proclaimd as the novel IOC pdwellnt at the International Olympic Committee’s 144th session in Costa Navarino, Greece, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Ptoastyo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Coventry will createpartner swap her mentor Bach at a handover June 23, which is Olympic Day, as the 10th IOC pdwellnt in its 131-year history. Bach achieveed the highest 12 years in office.
Coventry won back-to-back titles in the 200-meter backstroke at the 2004 Athens Olympics and in Beijing four years procrastinateedr. She joincessitate the IOC in 2013, almost one year after a disputed athlete election at the London Olympics.
The Associated Press donated to this tell.
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