New IOC president Kirsty Coventry says she'll 'lead through collaboration'

Thomson Reuters

· Posted: Jun 19, 2025 3:47 PM EDT | Last Updated: 1 infinitesimal ago

Kirsty Coventry, the recently elected president of the International Olympic Committee, emphasized collaboration with stakeholders arsenic a cardinal precedence for her tenure, successful remarks made Thursday successful Berlin up of her authoritative takeover adjacent week.

Coventry, a erstwhile Olympic swimming champion from Zimbabwe and Africa's astir decorated Olympian, was elected to the station successful March, succeeding Thomas Bach. She volition formally presume the relation pursuing Monday's handover ceremonial successful Lausanne, Switzerland.

"I similar to collaborate, to beryllium capable to listen, perceive everyone's opinions. I deliberation it is precise important," Coventry said during an online media roundtable.

"I besides cognize I americium the president and request to instrumentality decisions and that we request to move."

Coventry, 41, is the archetypal pistillate and the archetypal African to pb the IOC. Her attack is expected to disagree from her predecessor, arsenic Bach was known for the accelerated velocity and measurement of his decision-making and attraction of power.

Bach's presidency was marked by wide-ranging reforms, including overhauling the Olympic bidding process, introducing caller sports and reducing costs for big cities.

He besides navigated challenges specified arsenic the COVID-19 pandemic, which delayed the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and led to a spectator-free Beijing 2022 Winter Games.

Coventry said the IOC would clasp a two-day store for its members, starting connected June 24, the time aft the handover ceremony, arsenic portion of ongoing discussions with stakeholders connected cardinal issues.

"It was not astir rubric oregon power," she said erstwhile asked astir her determination to tally for president. "Sometimes those things get successful the mode and marque you absorption connected the incorrect things."

Reflecting connected her appointment, Coventry acknowledged the value of her relation arsenic the archetypal pistillate to pb the IOC.

"It is not thing I person thought astir a batch successful presumption of interaction it tin have," she said. "In the past days now, I person a overmuch greater knowing of that importance."

The IOC generates yearly revenues of respective cardinal dollars and Coventry noted the "responsibility" that comes with starring the organization.

"As we get person to the 23rd, yes, it is an breathtaking time but a time with a batch of responsibility. I americium precise arrogant of the information that we arsenic members chose astatine this infinitesimal successful clip to elite the archetypal pistillate president," she added.

WATCH | CBC Sports' Karissa Donkin details Coventry's predetermination as IOC president: