Olympics-Coe gracious after crushing defeat in IOC presidential election

Olympics - 144th IOC Session - Costa Navarino, Pylos, Greece - March 19, 2025 Candidate to the presidency of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Sebastian Coe during the session REUTERS/Louisa Gouliamaki/ File Photo

PYLOS, Greece (Reuters) - The biggest name in the field and one of the favourites, Sebastian Coe headed into the IOC presidential race exuding confidence, yet the Briton suffered a heavy defeat as Zimbabwe's Kirsty Coventry took the prize in the first round of voting on Thursday.

Coe, who presided over the London 2012 Olympics organising committee, received eight of the 97 votes of the International Olympic Committee members while Coventry snatched a staggering 49 and Spain's Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr collected 28.