Kirsty Coventry has made history by becoming the 10th President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the first woman and the first African to assume the prestigious role. The 41-year-old Zimbabwean was elected during a secret ballot at the 144th IOC Session held in Costa Navarino, Greece.

Coventry secured victory in the first round of voting, receiving 49 of the 97 votes cast, precisely the number required for a majority. She will serve an eight-year term, succeeding outgoing President Thomas Bach, who has led the organization since 2013.

Expressing her pride and gratitude after the announcement, Coventry stated: “I’m very proud to call myself a Zimbabwean and to have grown up there, for my mum to have been born there, my grandmother. And, [my message] to Africa: this is our time.”

President-elect Coventry will officially assume office on Olympic Day, June 23, following a formal handover from President Bach, who will step down as an IOC Member and transition to the role of Honorary President.

During her acceptance speech, Coventry reflected on her journey from Olympic champion to the pinnacle of the Olympic Movement: “This is an extraordinary moment. As a nine-year-old girl, I never thought I’d be standing up here one day, getting to give back to this incredible Movement of ours.”

She also reassured IOC Members of her commitment to the organization’s core values. “This is not just a huge honor but also a reminder of my commitment to every single one of you. I will lead this organization with so much pride, with the Values at the core. And I will make all of you very, very proud, and hopefully extremely confident in the decision that you have taken today. Now we’ve got some work to do together. This race was an incredible race, and it made us better, made us a stronger Movement.”

Her first major task as President will be overseeing the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, which is less than 11 months away.

Outgoing President Bach praised Coventry’s election, stating, “Congratulations to Kirsty Coventry on her election as the 10th IOC President. I warmly welcome the decision of the IOC Members and look forward to strong cooperation, particularly during the transition period. There is no doubt that the future for our Olympic Movement is bright and that the values we stand for will continue to guide us through the years to come.”