Sebastian Coe, the president of World Athletics and a two-time Olympic champion, has hailed Kirsty Coventry’s election as the new International Olympic Committee (IOC) president as a “historic moment,” despite his own disappointing third-place finish in the race for the role. Coventry, a Zimbabwean swimmer and two-time Olympic gold medalist, secured a decisive victory in the first round of voting, earning 49 out of 97 votes from IOC members in Greece. Coe, by contrast, received only eight votes.
Coventry’s win marks a significant milestone, as she becomes the first woman to lead the IOC. Coe, who had campaigned for a more open and athlete-centered IOC, expressed his delight at the outcome. “I’m absolutely delighted for Kirsty. We’ve got an athlete at the head of the organisation, that’s a good thing,” he said. Coe revealed that he and Coventry had discussed the importance of having an athlete lead the IOC just weeks before the election, and he described her victory as the “preferred outcome.”
Despite his own setback, Coe emphasized the significance of Coventry’s strong support from athletes and women within the IOC. “The athletes and the women members in particular supported her very strongly in the first round,” he noted. Coe also acknowledged the challenges ahead for Coventry, stating, “She’s got a huge job, but she will have the confidence of the athletes, and that’s very important.”
The election result also highlighted the shifting dynamics within the IOC. Outgoing president Thomas Bach, who reportedly backed Coventry’s campaign, has seen his relationship with Coe strained in recent years. Coe’s vocal stance on banning Russian athletes from track and field following the invasion of Ukraine, as well as his push for a more transparent IOC, had distanced him from Bach’s leadership style.
Coe, who has been critical of the IOC’s election process, reiterated the need for reform but expressed confidence that Coventry would address the same issues. “I have a very clear view about what the challenges are and what the movement needs to address,” he said. “But Kirsty will, I’m sure, want to deal with the same issues.”
Coventry’s election represents a new chapter for the IOC, with Coe’s support underscoring the importance of athlete leadership in shaping the future of the Olympic movement.
