2025年3月20日，希腊雅典，国际奥委会第144次全会上，一个历史性的时刻被定格：41岁的柯丝蒂·考文垂以首轮绝对优势当选国际奥委会第十任主席。这是一位奥运冠军的华丽转身，标志着奥林匹克运动迎来了首位女性领导者、首位非洲籍掌门人。
考文垂1983年出生于津巴布韦，是2004年雅典奥运会、2008年北京奥运会女子200米仰泳金牌获得者。她在2013年成为国际奥委会委员，担任过国际奥委会运动员委员会主席，现任国际奥委会执行委员会委员，国际奥委会达喀尔青奥会协调委员会主席和2032年布里斯班奥运会协调委员会主席。津巴布韦体育、娱乐和文艺部部长。
她将于今年6月接替托马斯·巴赫，出任第十任国际奥委会主席。
Kirsty Coventry was elected as the 10th president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Thursday, making history as the first woman and the first African to lead the global Olympic movement.
The election was conducted through a secret ballot by over 100 IOC members during the 144th IOC Session in Greece. The 41-year-old, who won the vote in the first round, will officially take office after June 23, succeeding Thomas Bach, who has served as president since 2013.
▲ 巴赫展示投票结果
"An extraordinary moment. As a 9-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 after her name was announced by Bach.
▲ Zimbabwean candidate for the presidency of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Kirsty Coventry delivers a speech after being elected uring the 144th IOC Session on the day of the election of the next President of the International Olympic Committee, in Costa Navarino, Greece on March 20, 2025. Zimbabwe's Kirsty Coventry elected president of International Olympic Committee on March 20, 2025. Photo/Agencies
In the first round of voting, a total of 97 valid ballots were cast since IOC members from a candidate's National Olympic Committee (NOC) were not eligible to vote. Coventry received 49 votes, securing the majority from the valid votes needed for the election. Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. finished second with 28 votes.
"Congratulations to Kirsty Coventry on her election as the 10th IOC president. I warmly welcome the decision of the IOC members and look forward to strong cooperation, particularly during the transition period. There is no doubt that the future for our Olympic movement is bright and that the values we stand for will continue to guide us through the years to come," Bach said.
Coventry's presidency is set for an eight-year term, with the possibility of seeking a four-year extension.
"It is a reminder of my commitment to every single one of you that I will lead this organization with so much pride, with the values at the core. And I will make all of you very very proud and hopefully extremely confident in the decision that you've taken today," she added.
A former Olympic swimming champion, Coventry is one of Africa's most decorated athletes, having won seven Olympic medals, including two golds. She has been an IOC member since 2013 and also served as chair of the IOC Athletes' Commission, where she played a crucial role in advocating for athletes' rights and welfare.
