Zimbabwe's Coventry becomes first woman elected International Olympics boss

Zimbabwe's former swimming champion Kirsty Coventry became the first woman and African to be elected president of the International Olympic Committee on Thursday.

At 41, the two-time Olympic swimming champion is also the youngest ever elected to be the most powerful person in sports, an achievement that she says is extraordinary.

"It is a really powerful signal we are truly global and evolved into an organization open to diversity," said Coventry after her election.

Coventry was earlier thought to be in a tight-run race with IOC veteran Juan Antonio Samaranch Junior and World Athletics chief Sebastian Coe to replace Thomas Bach but in the end, it turned out to be a demolition job as the majority of the voters sided with her at the vote.

There was need for only one round of voting in the end.

Coventry received 49 of the 97 votes possible, with Samaranch obtaining 28 and Coe third with a shocking eight votes. Coe, who was felt to be among the pre-vote favourites congratulated Coventry on her achievement.

"I am really pleased for Kirsty, it is really good there is an athlete at the top of the organisation," he was quoted by the BBC.

The IOC is already looking forward to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics which will have its own unique challenges, especially regarding the outspoken US President Donald Trump who has already been talking about the LA Olympics in different forums.

Coventry will also be faced with an important question. Should Russia be given back their place in the Olympics? Time will tell.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has already congratulated Coventry on her election, saying it was "proof of your high authority in the sporting world".