Kirsty Coventry becomes first woman and African to be elected IOC President

Kirsty Coventry has been elected the 10th President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), becoming the first woman and African ever elected to the position.

Coventry, 41, will also be the youngest ever to assume the role and came through a field of seven contenders in the seaside resort of Costa Navarino in Greece to land the most powerful job in world sport.

Coventry will officially take up the role on June 24, after incumbent Thomas Bach steps down following a 12-year spell in charge.

Coventry will arrive at a time of heightened geopolitical uncertainty around the globe, question marks over the direction of the Olympic movement in the 21st century, and more scrutiny than ever on issues concerning gender identity and equality, among others.

“This is an extraordinary moment. As an nine-year girl, I never thought I would be standing up here one day getting to give back to this incredible movement of ours,” Coventry said after her election.

Before becoming a member of the IOC, she was a standout athlete for Zimbabwe. Coventry has won seven of the country’s eight Olympic medals to date.

At the 2004 Olympics in Athens, she won three medals, including gold in the 200m backstroke before successfully defending her title four years later. (CNN)