LAUSANNE, February 24, 2025 - Newly elected IOC President Kirsty Coventry, born on September 16th, 1983 in Harare, Zimbabwe, has officially become the first female and first African President of the International Olympic Committee. A 7-time Olympic medalist in swimming - with two golds, four silvers, and one bronze - Coventry now brings her elite athlete experience and reform-driven mindset to the helm of the 130-year-old organization.

WHAT'S NEXT? Now officially President of the IOC, Kirsty Coventry steps into a historic role with a clear agenda: equity, integrity, and athlete support. And if her swim record in and out of the pool is anything to go by - brace yourself. The Olympic Movement is about to pick up speed.

BOLD, INCLUSIVE, DARING Speaking to AIPS Media as part of the Q&A series “Let’s Talk to the IOC Presidential Candidates” (recorded ahead of her victory), Coventry laid out her vision for an IOC that is bold, inclusive, and willing to take tough decisions. At 41, she is also the youngest-ever elected President, succeeding Thomas Bach following the vote at the 144th IOC Session in Greece on March 20.

“It's really a pleasure for me to be here. I am excited to speak with all of you today. First and foremost, I would have loved to be the youngest-ever candidate, but most of you know that our founder, Pierre de Coubertin, was actually the youngest at age 33, so I've got a good decade on him, which I'm proud of. But really it's a great honour to be in this race,” said Coventry, an IOC Executive Board member and Africa’s most decorated Olympian, during the session moderated by AIPS President Gianni Merlo.

Q&A SESSION: MOTHERHOOD

Gianni Merlo: As a mother of a four-month-old baby, many people are wondering how you travel around with young kids?
"Yes, I have a young family, as do a few other candidates, but when I had my first baby - she's now turning six in May - I was leading the Athletes’ Commission, I was appointed minister (in Zimbabwe), I was running my foundation and numerous things. Before she was one, she had been to 10 different countries around the world. I have an incredible network of support from my husband and family, and Lily, the newest addition to the family, has already been to five countries, so we're on a record streak here.

"This is a normal way of life for us, and I think it's a good way to show that women are just as capable as men, even if we are expected to be full-time mothers, wives, daughters, etc.

GENDER EQUALITY
Gianni Merlo: The IOC has made impressive progress in achieving gender equality across different areas, but in this race you were the only woman out of seven. Why do you think that is? "We’ve reached gender equality on the field of play, and we saw that for the first time in Paris, which we're very proud of. The movement has done an incredible job in the last few years within the membership – we’re now at 42% women, I believe.

"But we still have a long way to go. When we look at International Federations, the numbers drop drastically. National Olympic Committees? Same. National federations? Slightly better, but still not equal.

"We have work to do, and I’m excited to lead that movement. I see it as an opportunity to push boundaries - so that when my two girls are growing up, they don’t have the same ones. That’s not the only reason I ran, but it’s a strong one.

Prarthana Hazarika (India): How would you deal with sexism and stereotypes in the coverage of women athletes?
"We need more female journalists, plain and simple. I'm really encouraged by what I’m seeing online today, and I know there are many female crew members here too, which is great. But we have to be intentional about it – incorporate it into OBS, into our media plans. If we do that, we’ll see fewer of the outdated, offhand comments that still pop up far too often."

THE TRANSGENDER DEBATE

Gianni Merlo: There is a big debate about transgender participation. What is your opinion?

"I think the IOC needs to show more leadership. We need to sit down with all International Federations and develop a common framework we can work from. Each sport is different. Equestrian, for example, already has men and women competing equally. But others have very real concerns about preserving the integrity of the female category, and they've worked hard with their medical teams to find fair solutions.

"As IOC President, I want us to better understand those nuances, identify the overlaps, and take a leading role in creating a solution rooted in research and fairness.

Gianni Merlo: Do you think it’s possible to find the right solution?
"I do. Right now, it's up to each Federation, and many have already done the hard work. But if we bring them together and study the medical research collectively, I believe we can find common ground and protect the integrity of women's sport. I'm not a medical expert. But I do believe in facts, and in building a system based on them."

Ayishatu Ali (Ghana): With LA28 approaching, what’s your take on the U.S. executive order banning transgender athletes in girls' and women's sports?
"Regardless of national policies, the IOC must stay focused on one core principle: protecting the female category. To do that, we need global collaboration - especially with International Federations – and a framework that’s built on fairness and science.

PRIZE MONEY AT THE OLYMPICS

Gianni Merlo: What’s your stance on introducing prize money at the Olympics?
"Personally, I’m not a fan of prize money at the Games. I’d rather focus on better-supporting athletes before they get there – when they need it most. That’s when I struggled the most, trying to find sponsors, and relying on my family. The Olympic Solidarity scholarship helped me immensely. That kind of support has a lasting impact. After the Games, we also need to help athletes transition – help them build sustainable careers. Many are becoming influencers or entrepreneurs, leveraging the Olympic platform. We should teach them how to do that better. That, to me, is more meaningful than a one-off payment.

Coventry wasted no time addressing the elephant in the Olympic room: war.

WAR AND THE OLYMPICS
“Above anything else, it’s our duty as the IOC to ensure all athletes can participate at the Games,” she stated firmly. “That doesn’t mean ignoring conflict - it means finding a fair, holistic way to deal with athletes affected by war. I know what that feels like. In 2004, Zimbabwe was in turmoil. If I had been excluded because of what my government was doing, my life would look very different today. We must not punish athletes for the actions of their leaders.”

On the topic of Russian athletes and future Games, she acknowledged the minefield of complexity but remained pragmatic. “We saw in Paris that allowing some to compete as neutrals, under specific rules, helped strike a balance. It’s not perfect, but our first duty is to keep the Games safe for everyone.”

THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION AND DOPING
Coventry didn’t shy away from the rot at the root of sport: corruption, doping, and match-fixing. “We already work with WADA, the ITA, and Interpol during the Games,” she said, “but the real battle starts at home.”

She cited Zimbabwe’s efforts to crack down on match-fixing in cricket and soccer by involving national law enforcement and border control, inspired by effective reforms in South Africa. “We need to strengthen national legislation through NOCs. Corruption is a cancer - and we can’t treat it with a Band-Aid.”

On doping, her stance was unflinching: “Clean sport is non-negotiable. Athletes are under a microscope—so should every other stakeholder. We can’t have double standards.”

She pointed to Zimbabwe’s recent bold move to suspend its soccer federation amid corruption and abuse scandals. “We were suspended internationally for 18 months. It was painful - but it was the right thing to do. I won’t hesitate to take the same tough stance globally.”

MEDIA AND INCLUSION
Coventry acknowledged criticism about limited media access during the IOC election. “I hear you,” she told veteran journalist Gianni Merlo. “Press conferences are crucial. We need to improve communication, and that starts with listening.”

She also responded to concerns about journalists from developing countries being excluded due to funding and visa challenges. “If we’re going to reach nine-year-olds globally with the Olympic message, that includes opening doors for journalists from every corner of the world.”

AFGHAN WOMEN ATHLETES
On gender apartheid in Afghanistan and the exclusion of women from cricket, Coventry was unequivocal: “100% yes, I will fight for them.”

She revealed plans to meet the new ICC chairman next week and intends to raise the issue head-on. “Joining the Olympic programme requires a commitment to equal development in both men’s and women’s sport. No exceptions.”

Watch the full Q&A session recorded on YouTube here: