Olympics - 144th IOC Session - Press conference - Costa Navarino, Pylos, Greece - March 21, 2025 The new IOC president Kirsty Coventry applauds during the press conference REUTERS/Louisa Gouliamaki
PYLOS, Greece (Reuters) -The stunning first-round election of Zimbabwe's Kirsty Coventry as the next International Olympic Committee president made her the first female and first African to lead the IOC but more importantly ensured continuity once Thomas Bach departs in June.
Coventry, a multiple swimming Olympic champion and her country's sports minister, was long seen as incumbent Bach's preferred choice and her win on Thursday in the first round of voting against six other candidates will only underline the organisation's desire to continue along the German's path.
