A new president was elected Thursday in ancient Olympia, Greece, following one of the most open Olympic elections in decades. Former Olympic swimmer Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe is set to become the 10th leader of the International Olympic Committee in its 131-year history. She will serve an eight-year mandate, guiding the IOC through the next four Games. Notably, she is the first female president of the organization.
Results of the election for the 10th IOC President:
HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein 2
David Lappartient 4
Johan Eliasch 2
Juan Antonio Samaranch 28
Kirsty Coventry 49
Lord Sebastian Coe 8
Morinari Watanabe 4 pic.twitter.com/AE3z0vE6r3— IOC MEDIA (@iocmedia) March 20, 2025
Coventry, 41, faces key challenges, including steering the Olympics through political and sporting complexities on the road to the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles. She will also oversee the selection of a host city for the 2036 Games, which could mark a historic first for India, the Middle East, or Africa.
A decorated athlete, Coventry competed in five Olympic Games (2000–2016), earning seven medals: two gold, four silver, and one bronze. Following her swimming career, she has served as Zimbabwe’s Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation since 2018. and has held prominent roles within the IOC, including chair of the Olympic Athletes’ Commission.
On Thursday afternoon, 100 IOC members cast their votes in Greece. Coventry was elected in the first round, securing a majority.
World Athletics president Sebastian Coe was also in contention for the role but fell short, receiving only eight of 100 votes. He will remain an IOC member and continue in his role as head of the governing body for track and field.
