IOC: Zimbabwe’s Kirsty Coventry Seeks Historic Return

The sole female candidate for succeeding IOC President Thomas Bach is former competitive swimmer Kirsty Coventry.

Kirsty Coventry will create a historic moment in sports if she gets elected.
leader of the International Olympic Committee (IOC)
At its General Assembly on Thursday (March 20, 2025), she will become the first female and the first individual from Africa to lead the IOC.

She would also become the youngest person in this role since Pierre de Coubertin, who is known as the founder of the modern Olympic Games. De Coubertin established the IOC in 1894 and assumed the presidency two years thereafter at just 33 years old.

Coventry, a 41-year-old ex-world-class swimmer hailing from Zimbabwe, has consistently demonstrated remarkable determination and foresight.

“When I was nine, I shared with my father that I dreamed of participating in the Olympics and winning gold. He acknowledged that the path would be challenging, highlighting how tough it is merely to secure a spot on the Olympic team, not to mention earning a medal. Nonetheless, he expressed his belief in me,” she stated in an earlier Facebook post.

The most accomplished female Olympic athlete from Africa

By the time she was 20 years old, she fulfilled her aspirations. During the 2004 competition in Athens, Coventry secured the top prize in the women’s 200-meter backstroke event. She repeated this achievement eight years after her first win when competing in Beijing in 2008. Besides these victories, she also amassed an additional four silver medals and one bronze medal during various Olympic games. These accomplishments make Coventry stand out as the leading female athlete from Africa across the history of the Olympics. It should be noted that among Africans participating in the Olympics, only distance runner Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia surpassed her achievements with three golds and two bronzes.

“I’ve participated in five Olympic Games, earned seven individual Olympic medals, set numerous world records, and enjoyed one of the most successful World Championship careers ever,” Coventry stated on her LinkedIn profile.

Uniting a troubled nation

Nevertheless, all of these factors pale in comparison to the impact this achievement has had and could continue to have on others. It brought unity to my nation, which was being hamstrung by fissures stemming from financial and political upheavals, and it instilled hope in individuals who believed their situations barred them from pursuing their aspirations.

Despite remaining an active swimmer, Coventry got elected to the IOC Athletes’ Commission in 2013. Over the course of eight years, she advocated for athletes’ rights, serving as chairperson for three of those years. Most recently, she joined the IOC Executive Board.

An African Olympic host?

The growing prominence of Zimbabwe has sparked optimism across Africa that the continent might host the Summer Olympics for the first time.

Even though both South Africa and Egypt have shown interest, Coventry has tried to lessen these expectations.

“There is genuine interest, and now our task is to collaborate closely with all these nations that have shown enthusiasm, ensuring they grasp the full significance of the Olympic Games,” she stated.

In a Q&A session arranged by the Association of International Sports Journalists (AIPS), Coventry stated that the nations of Africa ought to “adopt a strategic approach from the perspective of the African Union regarding how we can enhance our infrastructure via the All Africa Games, which could subsequently support an Olympic Games bid.”

Coventry is well aware of the challenges inherent in such political procedures, drawing from her own experiences. Having served as Zimbabwe’s Minister of Sports since 2018, she mentions that she has developed “a definitely tougher hide” compared to her days as an athlete.

Diplomatic on controversial issues

When questioned about her stance on allowing transgender women to participate in female-only competitions, she avoided giving a direct answer.

Absolutely, finding a solution is essential,” Coventry stated. “I believe that the IOC needs to assume somewhat more of a leadership position.

The Zimbabwean newspaper also refrained from taking a strong stance on another contentious issue ahead of the IOC election: the potential participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in the Olympics.

“I believe that above all, our primary responsibility as the IOC is to guarantee that every athlete has the opportunity to compete in the Games,” she stated. “This will require various approaches tailored to individual athletes; however, ultimately, we must develop an inclusive method for addressing the challenges faced by athletes originating from conflicted regions.”

Given her experience representing Zimbabwe during a period marked by the nation’s political upheaval and global economic restrictions, she shared her insights.

It would have been simple for the global community to exclude us from participating. When I reflect on this, I wonder how different my life might be now. I feel thankful that I wasn’t held responsible for the actions of the leaders and governments involved.

There’s plenty to accomplish in the fight for equality.

Kirsty Coventry is not just a sports administrator and politician; she is also a mother. She welcomed her second daughter into the world fewer than six months ago. Her first child is currently six years old.

“When she reached her first birthday, she had already visited 10 distinct countries across the globe,” Coventry stated.

I am fortunate enough to have a remarkable support system through my spouse and relatives. It’s simply how our lives function together. In my view, this demonstrates effectively that women possess equal capabilities to men, despite often being assumed to take on roles such as full-time mothers, wives, and daughters among others.

There’s still considerable work ahead, and I’m enthusiastic about spearheading this initiative for gender equality,” Coventry stated. “Women are prepared to take charge. It’s a chance to break down barriers so that by the time my two daughters grow up, those limitations won’t be part of their world anymore.

The original version of this article was published in German.

Edited by: Jonathan Harding

Author: Stefan Nestler