Zimbabwe’s sports activities minister Kirsty Coventry has been elected as the brand new president of the Worldwide Olympic Committee, changing into the primary lady and first African to carry the position.
The 41-year-old former swimmer, who gained two Olympic gold medals, will substitute Thomas Bach – who has led the IOC since 2013 – and be the youngest president within the organisation’s 130-year historical past.
World Athletics boss Lord Coe was among the many favourites to win Thursday’s election in Greece, however Coventry secured a majority of 49 of the 97 out there votes within the first spherical.
Runner-up Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr gained 28 votes whereas Coe secured eight.
France’s David Lappartient and Japan’s Morinari Watanabe earned 4 votes every, whereas Prince Feisal al Hussein of Jordan and Sweden’s Johan Eliasch each took two.
Coventry, who already sits on the IOC government board and was mentioned to be Bach’s most popular candidate, is the tenth individual to carry the best workplace in sport and will probably be in submit for not less than the subsequent eight years.
Coventry has gained seven of Zimbabwe’s eight Olympic medals – together with gold within the 200m backstroke at each the 2004 and 2008 Video games.
“The younger woman who first began swimming in Zimbabwe all these years in the past might by no means have dreamed of this second,” mentioned Coventry.
“I’m significantly proud to be the primary feminine IOC president, and in addition the primary from Africa.
“I hope that this vote will probably be an inspiration to many individuals. Glass ceilings have been shattered at the moment, and I’m totally conscious of my duties as a job mannequin.”
Coventry described her election as an “extraordinary second” throughout her acceptance speech, and promised to make IOC members pleased with their alternative.
Throughout her election marketing campaign Coventry pledged to modernise, promote sustainability, embrace know-how and empower athletes.
She positioned explicit emphasis on defending feminine sport, backing a blanket ban of transgender ladies from competing in feminine Olympic sport.
Coventry has confronted criticism in Zimbabwe in her capability as sports activities minister since 2018, however defended her affiliation with the federal government of controversial president Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Governmental interference in soccer resulted in Fifa banning Zimbabwe from the worldwide sport in 2022, whereas final 12 months the US imposed sanctions on Mnangagwa and different senior officers for corruption and human rights abuses.
The presidential vote befell at a luxurious resort in a seaside resort about 60 miles south of Olympia, the birthplace of the traditional Video games.
IOC members needed to hand of their telephones earlier than a secret digital poll at about 14:30 GMT.
The marketing campaign course of restricted candidates to 15-minute displays at a personal occasion in January, with media barred and no scope for questions from members afterwards.
Endorsements by members weren’t allowed, nor was any criticism of rival candidates, which means behind-the-scenes lobbying performed an necessary position.
