Kirsty Coventry became the first woman and African to be elected president of the International Olympic Committee on Thursday, saying it was an “extraordinary moment”.
At 41, the two-time Olympic swimming champion is also the youngest- ever person elected to the most powerful position in sports governance.
Coventry succeeds the German Thomas Bach, who stepped down after 12 years, and told her fellow IOC members she would work with the six other heavyweight rivals she beat in the election.
“This is an extraordinary moment. As a nine-year-old girl I never thought that I would be standing up here one day, getting to give back to this incredible movement of ours,” Coventry said.
“This is not just a huge honour but it is a reminder to every single one of you…
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Sunday Independent (Digital) - 1 Issue, 2025-03-23