Coventry becomes first woman and first African to lead International Olympic Committee

Record ID: 1984731

  • Title: Coventry becomes first woman and first African to lead International Olympic Committee
  • Date: 20th March 2025
  • Summary: PYLOS, GREECE (MARCH 20, 2025) (REUTERS) PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE, KIRSTY COVENTRY, ENTERING PRESS CONFERENCE ALONGSIDE IOC SPOKESPERSON’S SERVICE DIRECTOR, MARK ADAMS (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE, KIRSTY COVENTRY, SAYING: “In terms of the significance of being the first woman, being the first Af
  • Embargoed:
  • Keywords: Donald Trump IOC International Olympic Committee Kirsty Coventry LA 2028 Olympics Thomas Bach transgender
  • Location: PYLOS, GREECE
  • City: PYLOS, GREECE
  • Country: Greece
  • Topics: Europe,Olympics,Sport
  • Reuters ID: LVA001046920032025RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Kirsty Coventry smashed through the International Olympic Committee’s glass ceiling on Thursday (March 20) to become the organisation’s first female and first African president in its 130-year history.
    The Zimbabwean swimming great, already a towering figure in Olympic circles, emerged victorious to replace Thomas Bach, securing the top job in world sport and ushering in a new era for the Games.
    Shortly after being named IOC president-elect, Coventry held a press conference where she noted the magnitude of her election.
    “In terms of the significance of being the first woman, being the first African, I have to say that there have been incredible women that have come before me,” she said while highlighting the influence former U.S. rower and IOC member Anita DeFrantz has had on her.
    “I think it will take a little bit of time to truly set in. But women like her paved the way for women like me. And I want to pave the way for the younger generation, especially because I have two young daughters,” Coventry added.
    When asked about how she will work with U.S. President Trump as the United States prepares to host the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles, Coventry said she has a long history of dealing with “difficult men” and that she believed the U.S. president will want the Games to be a success.
    The IOC president-elect also said she wants the IOC to take a more central role in issues related to transgender athletes.
    (Production: Stamos Prousalis, Kurt Michael Hall, Iain Axon)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2025. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: Olympic restriction: Clip cannot be re-published without additional clearances from the IOC.
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