The International Olympics Committee (IOC) on Thursday made a troika of historical records as it elected a new President.
By her election, 41-year-old Zimbabwe’s Sports Minister Kirsty Coventry, became the first woman, the first African and the youngest person to occupy the world’s highest office in sport.
As she succeeds German Thomas Bach, who had been President of IOC since 2013, Coventry becomes the 10th person to hold the post and could remain President for at least the next eight years.
Although World Athletics boss Lord Sebastian Coe was favorite to win Thursday’s election in Greece, Coventry, who already sits on the IOC executive board, secured an absolute majority in the first round of voting.
theheraldnews.ng recalls that the new IOC President holds the record of winning seven out of Zimbabwe’s total of eight Olympics medals, including gold medals in the 200m backstroke at the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games.
“The young girl who first started swimming in Zimbabwe all those years ago could never have dreamed of this moment.
“I am particularly proud to be the first female IOC president, and also the first from Africa.
“I hope that this vote will be an inspiration to many people. Glass ceilings have been shattered today, and I am fully aware of my responsibilities as a role model,” she said following her electoral victory.
