Kirsty Coventry has been elected as the first woman president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Africa’s most decorated Olympian and Zimbabwe’s minister of sport since 2018 secured a majority of votes in the first round of the election process at the 144th IOC Session in Greece.
The 41-year-old Zimbabwean was chosen over six other candidates, including Lord Sebastian Coe, the two-time 1500m Olympic gold medallist and president of World Athletics and Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr, the 65-year-old IOC vice-president and son of the seventh IOC president, Juan Antonio Samaranch.
She received 49 votes, finishing ahead of Samaranch Jr with 28, and third-place Coe on eight.
Coventry will begin her eight-year term and becomes the 10th president, succeeding Thomas Bach, who will remain in post until June.
