Former Olympic swimming champion, Kirsty Coventry, created history today by becoming the first woman to become International Olympic Committee (IOC) President in its 131-year existence.

Her victory in the first round of voting was a surprise, as she triumphed over a field of seven candidates, including Britain’s Sebastian Coe.   

The 41 year old Coventry secured 49 out of the 97 votes from IOC members, achieving an immediate majority.

This sensational achievement not only makes her the first woman to hold the IOC presidency but also the first African to do so, effectively positioning her as the most influential woman in global sports.

A celebrated Zimbabwean swimming legend and already a prominent figure within the Olympic movement Kirsty Coventry has literally smashed through the International Olympic Committee’s glass ceiling. She has succeeded Thomas Bach as president of the International Olympic Committee, securing the most powerful position in global sports. Thomas Bach’s 12-year tenure will officially end after Monday 23 June 2025.

“It’s a really powerful signal. It’s a signal that we’re truly global and that we have evolved into an organisation that is truly open to diversity and we’re going to continue,” Coventry said.

Kirsty Coventry’s path to the IOC presidency was remarkably swift, requiring only a single round of voting. She secured an outright majority in the secret ballot, garnering 49 of the 97 available votes. Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. finished in second place with 28 votes.

Pre-vote predictions had positioned Britain’s Sebastian Coe as a strong contender, but he ultimately placed third with eight votes. The remaining votes were distributed among the other candidates: Frenchman David Lappartient, Jordan’s Prince Feisal, Swedish-born Johan Eliasch, and Japan’s Morinari Watanabe.