The sole female candidate for succeeding IOC President Thomas Bach is former swimming champion Kirsty Coventry.
Kirsty Coventry will create a historic moment in sports if she gets elected. leader of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) At its General Assembly on Thursday (March 20, 2025), she will become the first female and the first individual from Africa to lead the IOC.
She would also become the youngest person in this role since Pierre de Coubertin, who is known as the founder of the modern Olympic Games. De Coubertin established the IOC in 1894 and became its president two years thereafter at just 33 years old.
Coventry, a 41-year-old ex-world-class swimmer hailing from Zimbabwe, has consistently exhibited remarkable determination and foresight.
"Back when I was nine, I shared with my father my dream of participating in the Olympics and securing a gold medal. He acknowledged that the path would be challenging, highlighting the difficulty involved merely in making the Olympic squad, not to mention winning an award, yet he expressed his confidence in me," she stated in a Facebook post several years back.
The most successful female Olympic athlete from Africa
When she was 20 years old, she fulfilled her aspiration. During the 2004 games held in Athens, Coventry secured the top prize in the women’s 200-meter backstroke event. She repeated this victory four years later during the 2008 competition in Beijing. Besides these victories, she also earned four Olympic silver medals along with one bronze medal. These achievements make Coventry the most decorated female Olympian from Africa ever. The sole athlete from Africa surpassing her record is Ethiopian distance runner Tirunesh Dibaba —who claimed three golds alongside two bronzes for herself.
"I have participated in five Olympic Games, earned seven individual Olympic medals, set numerous world records, and enjoyed one of the most successful World Championship careers ever," Coventry stated on her LinkedIn profile.
Uniting a troubled nation
Nevertheless, all of these factors pale in comparison to the impact this achievement had and continues to have on others. It brought unity to my nation, which was being undermined by economic and political upheavals, and instilled hope in individuals who believed their situations barred them from pursuing their aspirations.
Despite remaining an active swimmer, Coventry got elected to the IOC Athletes' Commission in 2013. Over the course of eight years, she advocated for athletes’ rights, serving as chairperson for three of those years before joining the IOC Executive Board more recently.
An African Olympic host?
The growing prominence of Zimbabwe has sparked optimism across Africa that the continent might host the Summer Olympics for the first time ever.
Despite expressions of interest from South Africa and Egypt, Coventry has downplayed these expectations.
"There is an interest, and now we must make sure to work closely with all these nations that are keenly interested, ensuring they grasp the full significance of the Olympic Games," she stated.
In a question-and-answer session arranged by the Association of International Sports Journalists (AIPS), Coventry stated that the nations of Africa ought to “take a strategic approach from the perspective of the African Union regarding how we can enhance our infrastructure via the development of the All Africa Games, which could subsequently support an Olympic Games bid.”
Coventry is well aware of the challenges inherent in navigating complex political landscapes, drawing from her own experiences. Having served as Zimbabwe’s Minister of Sports since 2018, she mentions that this role has endowed her with “significantly tougher skin” compared to when she was an athlete.
Diplomatic on controversial issues
When questioned about her stance on allowing trans women to participate in female-only competitions, she avoided giving a direct answer.
Absolutely, finding a solution is crucial," Coventry stated. "I believe that the IOC needs to assume a greater leadership position.
The Zimbabwean newspaper also refrained from taking a strong stance on another contentious issue ahead of the IOC elections: whether Russian and Belarusian athletes should be allowed to participate in the Olympics.
“I believe that our primary responsibility as the IOC is to guarantee every athlete’s participation in the Games,” she stated. “This will require various approaches tailored to individual athletes; however, ultimately, we must develop an inclusive method for addressing the challenges faced by athletes hailing from conflicted regions.”
Given her background participating for Zimbabwe during a period marked by the nation’s political unrest and global economic restrictions, she shared her thoughts.
It would have been simple for the global community to exclude us from participating. When I reflect on this, I wonder how different my life might be now. I feel thankful that I wasn’t held responsible for the actions of the leaders and governments involved.
There's plenty to accomplish in the fight for equality.
Kirsty Coventry wears multiple hats as a sports administrator, politician, and parent. Just under half a year ago, she welcomed her second daughter into the world. Meanwhile, her firstborn is now six years old.
"When she reached her first birthday, she had already visited 10 distinct countries across the globe," Coventry stated.
I am fortunate enough to have a remarkable support system through my spouse and relatives. It’s simply how our daily existence unfolds. I believe this demonstrates effectively that women possess equal capabilities as men, despite often being tasked with roles such as full-time mothers, wives, daughters, among others.
There's still considerable work ahead, and I'm enthusiastic about spearheading this initiative for gender equality," Coventry stated. "Women are prepared to take charge. I see this as a chance to break down barriers so that by the time my two daughters grow up, those limitations won’t be part of their world anymore.
The article was initially published in German.
Edited by: Jonathan Harding
Author: Stefan Nestler