Kirsty Coventry Vows to Inspire Hope and Change Lives as New IOC President

Kirsty Coventry has officially taken the reins as president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), pledging to use sport as a tool to uplift lives and inspire hope. The historic transition, marked by a moving ceremony in Lausanne, Switzerland, saw the 41-year-old Zimbabwean swimming legend become both the first African and the first woman to lead the world’s most powerful sports body.

Coventry, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, takes over from Thomas Bach, who handed her the symbolic golden key to the IOC during the occasion. In her heartfelt inaugural address, she emphasized that the Olympic movement must be more than just a showcase of athletic excellence.

“We are guardians of the Olympic movement,” Coventry told the gathered IOC members and global stakeholders. “And it’s not just about a multi-sport event. It’s a platform to inspire. It’s a platform to change lives. And it’s a platform to bring hope.”

Drawing on her personal journey, Coventry reflected on how sport transformed her life and praised the influential women who guided her along the way. “I was very fortunate to have strong women around me from a very early age, from my grandmothers to my mom, to many of you women here in this room today, to my coach, Kim.”

While celebrating her past, Coventry made it clear that her presidency would be forward-looking and inclusive. She will lead a two-day workshop this week aimed at gathering insights from stakeholders on the future direction of the IOC. Yet she was quick to remind the members that the strength of the movement lies in unity.

Using a metaphor inspired by her young daughter, Ella, Coventry compared the IOC to a spider’s web—strong and intricate, yet fragile if even one strand breaks. “Each and every single one of you is that spider web,” she said. “It’s complex, it’s beautiful, and it’s strong. But it only works if we work together and if we remain united.”

She concluded with a rallying cry to continue inspiring younger generations. “Keeping united our movement will ensure and will allow for all of us that we can wake up daily and continue to inspire the next generation to continue to change lives. And most importantly, to make dreams come true.”

Former president Thomas Bach gave his full endorsement, calling Coventry a worthy and visionary successor. “With Kirsty Coventry, the Olympic movement will be in the best of hands,” he said. “She knows what it means to live the Olympic values. She knows how to lead with courage. She is driven by a desire to give back to our Olympic movement that has shaped her life. Now she makes history.”

As Coventry steps into this historic role, her leadership marks a new chapter for the Olympic movement—one defined by inclusivity, resilience, and a firm belief in the power of sport to transform lives.