Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC) presidential candidate Kirsty Coventry says it is time the organisation was led by a lady – however desires members “to believe in me that I am the proper particular person”.
The 41-year-old former swimmer would additionally turn into the youngest – and the primary from outdoors Europe or North America – to guide the organisation in its 130-year historical past if she beats her six male rivals in a vote later this month.
“I do not suppose it is nearly gender, the identical approach that I do not suppose it is nearly being the one African candidate,” the Zimbabwean sports activities minister instructed BBC Sport.
“It truly is about, ‘what does the motion want at present’?
“I feel being a double Olympic champion and having the experiences that I’ve had inside our motion and outdoors, all convey plenty of worth to making sure I may lead this organisation.”
Coventry, who received the 200m backstroke on the 2004 and 2008 Olympics and is Africa’s most-decorated Olympian, is “very constructive” about her probabilities of turning into sport’s strongest determine when IOC members make their alternative in Greece on 20 March.
When requested how she felt about being seen as the popular alternative of outgoing president Thomas Bach after his 12-year tenure, Coventry added: “He is allowed the candidates to do what we have to do and discuss to the members and it is [their] resolution. He is been honest to the entire candidates.”
Coventry desires to “attempt to problem the established order and to convey change”.
“Having the ability to showcase the most important and most great sports activities occasion on this planet, the place you will have athletes from all totally different backgrounds coming collectively…that for me is what the world wants proper now,” she added.
“We have now to make excellent choices in order that this motion can stay related for generations to return. And, for me, being a mum of two younger women, I really feel the load on my shoulders is perhaps a bit of bit greater than that of the opposite candidates as a result of I am going have a continuing reminder that I must not mess this up.”
