Kirsty Coventry: The first woman at the top of the IOC!

Kirsty Coventry: The first woman at the top of the IOC!

Paris, Frankreich - On March 20, 2025, Kirsty Coventry was elected first wife and first African who will hold the office of President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Coventry, a famous swimmer from Zimbabwe, prevailed against her competitors in a secret ballot with 49 out of 97 votes. Her predecessor, Thomas Bach, is now being replaced by her. Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. took second place with 28 votes, followed by Sebastian Coe, who received 8 votes. Other candidates were David Lappartient, Prince Feisal Al Hussein, Johan Eliasch and Morinari Watanabe.

Coventry emphasized her commitment to lead the organization with pride and bring the IOC members together. In the first six months of her term, she plans to take various ideas and suggestions from the IOC members into account. Their choice marks a significant progress, especially in a body that had no female members until 1981. Although Coventry is only the second woman who runs for the IOC presidential office, she now has realistic opportunities with her victory to redefine the role in a new way.

historical developments in the IOC

The choice of Coventry falls at a time when the IOC is increasingly committed to equality in sport. A look at the story shows that no women were allowed to take part in the first Olympic Games in Athens in Athens. It was not until 1900 in Paris that the first women were added to the games, with 22 athletes started in four disciplines at the time. Helene de Pourtales won the first gold medal for women in open competition.

The then IOC President Baron Pierre de Coubertin was against women's competitions, which illustrates the challenges for women in sport. Alice Milliat reacted to this Situation in 1921 with the event of the first “Olympic women's games” in Monaco. Over the years, the IOC approved various competitions for women, including gymnastics and fencing. Permission to the women's marathon in 1984 and the introduction of the pole jump for women in 2000 were further milestones.

equality in sport

2024 The IOC will celebrate a remarkable premiere at the Olympic Summer Games in Paris: For the first time, women and men will take part in the competitions in the same numbers. This is the result of intensive efforts to increase gender parity in sport. At the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2021, the proportion of female athletes was 49%, and for 2024 a complete equality in competition is sought.

The opening of new opportunities for women in sport is supported by programs such as the “Women in Sport High Performance Pathway” of the IOC, which aims to promote trainers. In 2021, almost 49% of the Olympiums were women, and in several sports men and women compete together in mixed competitions. For the promotion of equality in sport, the proportion of female IOC members, which is now 41%, was fundamental.

The choice of Kirsty Coventry is another step in this direction and gives hope that the Olympic Games will become even more inclusive and just. With its leadership, the IOC strategy for promoting women could finally be led to new heights.

For more information, read the full articles at Al Jazera and Wissen.de .