Zimbabwean sports icon Kirsty Leigh Coventry (41) has been elected as the new International Olympic Committee (IOC) President, becoming the first woman to lead the world’s highest sports governing body. Coventry was voted into office during a secret ballot at the 144th IOC Session, held in Costa Navarino, Greece, from March 20-22, 2025.
This historic moment is particularly significant for Africa, as Coventry becomes the first African to lead the IOC since its establishment in 1894. Her election marks a new chapter for African representation in global sports leadership, a development that resonates deeply with Malawi’s sporting community and the Malawi Olympic Committee (MOC), which continues to advocate for greater opportunities for African athletes.
The Election Process
Voting took place at The Westin Resort in Greece, where 97 IOC members cast their ballots. Coventry won in the first round with 49 votes, surpassing her closest competitor, Spanish candidate Juan Antonio Samaranch, who secured 28 votes. Other high-profile candidates included former World Athletics President Sebastian Coe (UK) and French sports leader David Lappartient.
A Victory for African Sports Leadership
Coventry’s appointment is a source of pride for Africa, particularly for countries like Malawi, which continue to strive for greater representation on the international stage. As a seven-time Olympic medalist in swimming, Coventry has been a strong advocate for youth development and elite sports funding, issues that are also central to Team Malawi’s preparations for major global events such as the Paris 2024 Olympics and Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Her leadership is expected to open doors for more investment in African sports, a prospect that aligns with Malawi’s ambitions to enhance grassroots sports programs, secure more sponsorship for athletes, and improve participation at the Olympic and Commonwealth Games.
What This Means for Malawi
The Malawi Olympic Committee (MOC) and local sporting bodies will look to strengthen ties with the IOC under Coventry’s leadership to attract more resources, training opportunities, and scholarships for Malawian athletes. Additionally, her election reinforces the importance of women’s leadership in sports, aligning with Malawi’s own efforts to promote gender equality in sports administration.
Final Election Results
- Kirsty Coventry (Zimbabwe) – 49 votes
- Juan Antonio Samaranch (Spain) – 28 votes
- Sebastian Coe (UK) – 8 votes
- David Lappartient (France) – 4 votes
- Morinari Watanabe (Japan) – 4 votes
- Prince Feisal Al Hussein (Jordan) – 2 votes
- Johan Eliasch (Sweden/Britain) – 2 votes
A New Era for Global Sports
With this victory, Coventry succeeds Thomas Bach, who served as IOC President from 2013 to 2025. Her leadership is expected to focus on strengthening athlete development programs, increasing funding for Olympic sports, and expanding the role of Africa in global sports governance.
Malawi joins the rest of Africa in celebrating this historic milestone, with hopes that Coventry’s tenure will lead to greater recognition, funding, and development opportunities for Malawian athletes on the international stage.