History has been made, and Southern Africa is beaming with pride… Kirsty Coventry has officially become the first African and first woman to lead the International Olympic Committee.
Southern Africa (25 June 2025) – It’s a big moment for Southern Africa… actually, scratch that. It’s a massive moment for the world.
Zimbabwe’s very own Kirsty Coventry has officially taken over as the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and in doing so, she’s made history in the process. Not only is she the first African to hold the position, but she’s also the first woman to ever lead the global sporting body. Yep, history was made… and this time, it’s Southern Africa in the spotlight.
The 41-year-old Olympian, leader, and all-round powerhouse was officially handed the baton (well, the Olympic key) at a ceremony in Lausanne. And just like that, the little girl from Harare who dreamed of big things is now at the very top of the Olympic world.
And we are here for it!
You probably already know that Kirsty Coventry is no stranger to breaking records. She’s Africa’s most decorated Olympian, with seven Olympic medals, including two glorious golds in the 200m backstroke. From her debut at the Sydney Games in 2000 to her swan song in Rio 2016, Kirsty’s name became synonymous with excellence, hard work and hope for an entire continent.
But her journey didn’t end at the edge of the pool.
After retiring from competition, Kirsty jumped into leadership, serving as Zimbabwe’s Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, while also climbing the ranks of the IOC. She chaired the Athletes’ Commission, joined the Executive Board and became a strong advocate for safe, clean and inclusive sport.
Now, she’s taking that experience, and heart, to the very top job. Her belief is that it is a group effort, “I am because we are”.
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This Grade 2 Teacher Is Running Her Socks Off for Vrygrond's Pets!From Harare to Lusaka, Joburg to Gaborone, this moment belongs to every young athlete who’s ever dared to dream. To every girl who’s been told leadership isn’t her lane. To every Southern African who has felt underrepresented on the world stage.
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa called her “a treasure to all young athletes across Africa,” and crowds at home have celebrated with flags, singing, and proud tears.
Kirsty’s leadership is already being felt as a moment of real change. She’s spoken openly about breaking barriers and bringing people together. She’s said that she’ll lead with unity and heart, and she’s committed to listening, not just directing.
In her address, Kirsty thanked Thomas Bach for all his work: “President Bach, the Movement has been served by you, as you just mentioned, with pure passion and purpose for 12 years.
“You have kept us united through some of the most turbulent times, and you’ve led us to an incredible Paris [Olympic Games], which I hope was one of the best ways we could all say thank you.”
“We look forward to making you proud in the future. You’ve left us with many legacies. One of those being: ‘together’. And that’s something that I hope we all feel today. So, thank you from the bottom of my heart for leading us with all that passion and that purpose for so many years, and never wavering once from our values. It means a lot, especially in today’s world.”
She also highlighted the important role of family and friends.
“To all of my family and friends who have always kept me grounded, some of my closest friends still would not be able to tell you what race I swam in at all through any of my career.
“And this helped, because it kept me grounded and focused and humble. I was very fortunate to have strong women around me from a very early age. From my grandmothers, to my mum, to many of you women here in this room today. To my coach, Kim. Kim, in Athens in 2004, our very first medal, your little baby was seven months old.
“My little baby today is seven months old too. Who knew the things that you would be teaching me outside of the pool, not just to be a great athlete, but to be a great mum and a great wife. I’m hoping that I imparted a little bit of knowledge to you.”
Paying tribute to her family, Coventry said.“To my husband, Ty, Ella, and her little sister, Lily, you guys are my rocks, my inspiration. You make me a better person. You make me a better mum and a better wife.”
She said that her children are constant reminders of why the work for the Olympic Movement is so meaningful.
“You are a constant reminder of why this Movement is relevant, why it needs to change, why we need to embrace the new ways, and you’ll be a constant reminder for many years to come on the decisions that we all take together.”
Coventry also went on to thank her parents who supported her all the way to becoming an Olympic champion and now the IOC President.
“To my mum and dad who are here today, who would have thought so many cake sales and selling of burgers would ever have led to this moment? There were many, many hundreds of cakes and thousands of hamburgers sold so that they could sacrifice sending me and my teammates on our next adventure. And I’m so grateful to both of you for everything that you’ve done.”
Coventry thanked the millions of parents around the world for the sacrifice that they make daily for their children to achieve their dreams. She said the Olympic Movement is creating a platform for generations to come to reach their dreams.
“It’s amazing. It’s incredible. And I can’t believe that, in 1992, when I had the dream of going to the Olympic Games and winning a gold medal for Zimbabwe, that I’d be standing here with all of you getting to make those dreams come true for more young people around the world.”
“IOC Members are the guardians of this Movement,” she said.
“As the Olympic Movement, as Federations, as NOCs, as our sponsors and our partners, we are the guardians of this incredible platform. And it’s not just about a multi-sport event. It’s a platform to inspire. It’s a platform to change lives. And it’s a platform to bring hope. These are not things taken lightly, and I’m looking forward to working with each and every one of you to make sure that we continue to inspire, continue to change lives, and in our divided world today, continue to be a beacon of hope.”
She compared the Olympic Movement to a spider’s web, which is complex, strong and resilient.
“But if one tiny little piece of that spider’s web breaks, it automatically becomes weakened. Our Movement, each and every single one of you, is that spiderweb. It’s complex, it’s beautiful, and it’s strong.
“But it only works if we work together, and if we remain united. Every single one of you plays a very significant role in our very important ecosystem. Working together over these next few years and consistently finding ways to strengthen and keep united our Movement will ensure and will allow for all of us that we could wake up daily and continue to inspire the next generation, to continue to change lives, and most importantly, to make dreams come true.”
She concluded: “I am really honoured that I get to walk this journey with you, and I cannot wait for anything that lies ahead, because I know I have the best team to support me, and our Movement in these next eight years.”
But this is about more than just a fancy title. This is about visibility. About having a seat at the global table. About seeing our stories, our challenges and our dreams reflected in leadership. For the first time in history, Southern Africa has a voice at the very top of the Olympic Movement, and it belongs to someone who truly gets it.
It means more opportunities, more representation and more inspiration for future generations.
It means that a kid training on a dusty field in Lusaka, or diving into a pool in Durban, can look at Kirsty Coventry and say: That could be me.
Southern Africa, take a moment. Breathe it in. This is big. This is beautiful. This is your win, too.
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