The International Canoe Federation would like to congratulate Kirsty Coventry on being elected as the 10th President of the International Olympic Committee.
She will become the first woman and African to serve as IOC President when she assumes office on June 23 for an eight-year term.
The 41-year-old Coventry was chosen after securing 49 of the 97 votes from the membership at the 144th IOC Session in Costa Navarino, Greece.
“This is an extraordinary moment. As a nine-year-old girl I never thought I'd be standing up here one day, getting to give back to this incredible movement of ours,” Coventry said after the election.
“This is not just a huge honour but it is a reminder of my commitment to every single one of you that I will lead this organisation with so much pride, with the values at the core.
“And I will make all of you very, very proud, and hopefully extremely confident in the decision that you have taken today. Now we've got some work together.
“This race was an incredible race, and it made us better, made us a stronger movement.”
The Zimbabwean has been an IOC Member since 2013 and an IOC Executive Board Member from 2018 to 2021 and from 2023 to the present day.
She is the Minister of Sport, Art & Recreation in Zimbabwe and has been the country's Minister of Sport since 2018.
A five-time Olympian, she has won seven Olympic medals – two gold, four silver and one bronze.
She was the Chairperson of the IOC Athletes' Commission from 2018 to 2021 and is also the Chairperson for the Co-ordination Commissions for Brisbane 2032, as well as the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
“Congratulations to Kirsty Coventry on becoming the first female and African President in IOC history. I am sure she will harness the power of sport to strengthen the Olympic Movement further,” ICF President Thomas Konietzko said.
“I look forward to working closely with her in the years to come. I would also like to thank President Thomas Bach for his exemplary service over the last 12 years and congratulate him on his election as IOC Honorary President for Life.”
The ICF would also like to commend all candidates — Lord Sebastian Coe, Johan Eliasch, HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein, David Lappartient, Juan Antonio Samaranch, and Morinari Watanabe — for their work towards the Olympic Movement.
Photos by IOC/Greg Martin
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