Zimbabwe’s Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, Kirsty Coventry, has announced her candidacy for the presidency of the International Olympic Committee. If successful, Coventry would become the first female president in the IOC’s 130-year history.
Coventry, 41, is Africa’s most decorated Olympian, with two gold medals, four silver, and one bronze in backstroke and medley events at the Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Games. Since retiring from competitive swimming, she has transitioned into a political role, serving as Zimbabwe’s sports minister since 2018.
Coventry’s bid for the IOC presidency comes at a pivotal time as current president Thomas Bach steps down in 2025. She faces stiff competition from high-profile candidates, including Sebastian Coe, president of World Athletics, and Juan Antonio Samaranch Salisachs, the current IOC vice-president.
