Kirsty Coventry has formally taken over the leadership of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) from Thomas Bach on Monday. The 41-year-old former top swimmer from Zimbabwe is the youngest, the first female, and the first African IOC president.
Coventry received the key to the headquarters in Lausanne during a ceremony handed over by the 71-year-old Bach. The two-time Olympic champion has been appointed for eight years.
“I am honored to be able to make this journey with you,” Coventry said during the ceremony to the present IOC members. “I want to work together and consistently find ways to strengthen our movement and keep it united.”
Coventry won the elections in March against six male candidates. In the first round, she surprisingly received the required majority of the votes. She is the tenth president of the IOC.
Bach was the highest sports boss in the world for twelve years. The former Olympic fencing champion will continue to be committed to the IOC as honorary president. “I have given everything I could to the Olympic movement,” said Bach, who succeeded Jacques Rogge as chairman in 2013.
