Kirsty Coventry, a former Olympic swimmer from Zimbabwe, was elected as the 10th president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on March 20, 2025.
She takes over from Thomas Bach, who served in the role for 12 years.
At 41 years old, Coventry makes history as the first woman, the first African, and the youngest person to lead the IOC.
Her victory came during the IOC’s 141st session in Lausanne, Switzerland, where she secured an overwhelming 78 out of 91 votes, defeating three other candidates. This milestone highlights the IOC’s move toward greater diversity in its leadership.
