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≡ COVENTRY ELECTED ≡
In a whirlwind of activity after being elected as the 10th President of the International Olympic Committee, Zimbabwe’s Kirsty Coventry held a 20-question, 30-minute news conference at the IOC Session in Costa Navarino, Greece.
She was asked about being the first female head of the IOC and immediately paid tribute to another pioneer for women’s sport:
“I might get a little emotional about [U.S. member] Anita DeFrantz. A huge inspiration to me and to many women And I was just really proud that I could make her proud.
“She was the first woman to run for this position. And like I said, she inspired me. She’s been a huge mentor of mine since I came into the movement in 2013.
“And yeah, it is significant. I think it will take a little bit of time to truly sink in. But women like her paved the way for women like me. And I want to pave the way for younger generation, especially because I have two young daughters.”
And barely an hour after being elected, she was already being questioned about what will happen about doping in sports and dealing with U.S. President Donald Trump on issues related to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles:
“Firstly, when it comes to anti-doping – and being a former Olympian, well, not former, an Olympian and a former athlete – it’s incredibly important and everyone should be held to the exact same standards. Our athletes are held to the same standards and the entire Movement around them should be held to the same standards. That’s something that I will not waver from. It’s very important for me that that happens.
“And we may have a bit of work to do to make sure that that actually is put into place.
“But one of the congratulations that I received was from the WADA president and vice president and director general and we’ll have a strong working relationship.”
“In terms of your first question when it comes to the USA and L.A., I have been dealing with – let’s say – difficult men in high positions since I was 20 years old. And first and foremost, what I have learned is that communication will be key. That is something that will happen early on. My firm belief is that President Trump is a huge lover of sports.
“He will want these Games to be significant. He will want them to be a success.
“And we will not waver from our values. And our values of solidarity and ensuring every athlete that qualifies for the Olympic Games as the possibility to attend the Olympic Games and be safe during the Olympic Games.”
A five-time Olympian in swimming and a seven-time medal winner, Coventry is the Minister for Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, originally appointed in 2018. She will step down from that role – she ran for the IOC Presidency with the full support of her administration back home – and will move to Lausanne, Switzerland to take over as the IOC President, bringing husband Tyrone Seward and their two young daughters with her.
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IOC President Thomas Bach (GER) spoke to reporters before Coventry, a happy man as he has supported Coventry as a rising star in the Movement since he became President in 2013. Of her victory, he observed:
“I think she will have a very strong mandate, with this clear win in the first round, which is also giving a great signal of unity of the Olympic Movement. …
“It is a surprise, but it is a strong signal, again, of the unity of the Olympic Movement.”
He said he has invited Coventry for breakfast on Friday, to discuss the transition, and called on all of the other candidates (and voters) to rally behind Coventry.
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