Kirsty Coventry stood on top of the podium in Athens on August 20, 2004, creating history both for herself and Zimbabwe as the first ever Olympic champion from her country.
On March 20, 2025, again on Greek land but 275 km away in Costa Navarino, the former international swimmer won a bigger, tougher and more important contest to become the first woman and African president of the International Olympic Committee in its 130-year old history.
Back then, she stood for all things hopeful for a country in turmoil and civil strife. Taking over at a time when not just the Olympic movement but world sports is in a state of flux, Kirsty will be expected to navigate the fragile balance between continuity and change.
Her medal cabinet is scintillating: seven medals across two Olympics, including consecutive gold in 2004 and 2008 in 200m backstroke — the only other medal for Zimbabwe was a gold in 1980 through its women’s hockey team — multiple titles at the World Championships and an incredible 14 golds at the African Games from 2007 to 2015, making her one of the most, if not the most, decorated woman African Olympians of all times.
The 41-year-old, the 10th president of the IOC, is also the second youngest (after founder Pierre de Coubertin) and only the second Olympic champion (after the outgoing chief, Thomas Bach) to be elected to what is unarguably the most powerful position in the sporting world.
She has also been the Zimbabwe Sports Minister since 2018, and for the next eight years, she will have to bring all her political acumen, sporting strength and diplomatic skills together to take on the myriad challenges.
The major challenges she faces include deciding on the return of banned Russia and Belarus to the Olympic fold in the midst of the Ukraine war, working on a tense relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump before Los Angeles 2028 (the next Summer Olympics), ensuring the smooth conduct of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy and selecting the host for the 2036 Games.
On the field, she will have to face long-term, complex issues, including those of gender eligibility, growing opposition to transgender athletes in women sports, climate change, the scourge of doping and, most importantly, keeping the Olympic relevant for the wider audience. “The future of the Olympic movement is bright,” Kirsty said in her speech when the result was announced.
Not without criticism
Kirsty will have to wait, however, till June, when she will officially take over from the outgoing all-powerful and now honorary president Thomas Bach after a three-month transition period to ensure smooth handover. For her critics, however, it’s just a formality, claiming as they do that Kirsty has not just been Bach’s hand-picked choice for a successor but was actively supported and canvassed for by the outgoing German in the last few months.
Kirsty’s election surprised many of the close watchers of the IOC powerplay. Her overwhelming victory came despite being among the least high-profile and publicly visible candidates, a list that also featured England’s Sebastian Coe. As the only white member of the national Cabinet and a possible symbol of unity in a fractured country, she has also faced criticism in Zimbabwe for her handling of sporting issues, including the suspension of the National Football Association. A recipient of the Olympic Solidarity Scholarship to Auburn University from where she graduated in 2006 with a degree in hotel and restaurant management, Kirsty remains the only individual medallist for Zimbabwe ever since, adding four more in 2008 to her three from 2004 and participating till 2016 before retiring.
All that criticism, ironically, may well come in handy when Kirsty begins navigating the global sporting terrain. “When it comes to the U.S. and Los Angeles (2028 Olympics), I have been dealing with, let’s say, difficult men in high positions since I was 20 years old. What I have learnt is that communication will be key,” she said on dealing with Mr. Trump.
“My stance is that we will protect the female category and female athletes. We will look at the transgender issue and the protection of the female category… As an Olympian and a former athlete, anti-doping is incredibly important.”
From India’s point of view, the hosting rights for the 2036 Olympics will be of paramount importance. While Kirsty’s election has triggered hopes of the quadrennial event finally coming to Africa, it will be tough. Egypt and South Africa have been mentioned as expressing interest but nothing has been confirmed. “At the end of the day, there is a process in place, and that will remain,” she has said.
Published – March 23, 2025 01:54 am IST
