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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Sport
Lawrence Ostlere

Kirsty Coventry becomes first woman IOC president

Kirsty Coventry IOC Thomas Bach
  • Kirsty Coventry has been elected as the new president of the International Olympic Committee.
  • The Zimbabwean former swimmer is the first woman and the first African to hold the position and takes over from Thomas Bach, who has held the role for 12 years.
  • Coventry secured an overall majority in the first round of voting, at the luxury Costa Navarino resort in Greece, to sweep to victory.
  • Other prominent contenders for the role included Sebastian Coe, who won Olympic gold for Great Britain in 1980 and 1984 and is president of World Athletics, and Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr.
  • Bach will officially hand over the reins to Coventry on June 26. She will serve an eight-year term as president.
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