Kirsty Coventry, the first woman to assume the presidency of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), is about to take office. In her first interview after being elected, Coventry shared her excitement, passion, and vision for the future of the Olympic movement. From her warm welcome in Zimbabwe to her transition to Lausanne, the former Olympic swimmer spoke candidly about her career, her values, and the challenges that lie ahead.
Coventry described the days following her election as a whirlwind. “Since the election, I returned home and received an incredible welcome from all Zimbabweans, which was wonderful.” After ending her tenure as Minister of Sport and Arts in Zimbabwe, she took a few days to reconnect with nature. “I spent four days on safari, getting back to nature, feeling grounded and resting a little before starting the transition.”
Back in Lausanne, Coventry highlighted the support she received: “The IOC team gave me an incredible welcome. It’s been a whirlwind, but a wonderful whirlwind, if I can say so.”
“It’s not a burden, but a responsibility”
As Africa’s most successful Olympic athlete, Coventry recognizes the expectations placed on her. “Are there a lot of expectations? Yes. Does it come with a lot of responsibility? Yes. But I don’t see it as a burden. I am truly honored to have been given this opportunity and excited about what the future holds,” she said. For her, leading the IOC is a natural progression after years of dedication to the Olympic movement.
Coventry reflected on the moment she realized her role went beyond being an athlete. “I think it was when I became a member of the IOC Athletes’ Commission. Having a voice at the table was empowering. We realized that we were changing the perception of athletes, not only through our conversations, but also through the educational programs we offered.”
For Coventry, sport has always been a driver of change. “I knew from the age of nine that I wanted to go to the Olympics and win a gold medal. I didn’t know exactly what that meant, but I knew it was my purpose.” Now, as a leader, her purpose is to “give back to the movement that changed my life.”
“I wanted to give something back to Zimbabwe”
Coventry also spoke about her work with the Kirsty Coventry Foundation, which she created to support children in disadvantaged communities in Zimbabwe. “The concept was to create safe spaces for children aged six to thirteen, where they could try new sports.” The foundation offered activities such as soccer, rugby, netball, basketball, and water safety, impacting more than 6,000 children in just six months. “It was the best thing you could do on a Saturday: seeing the smiles on the children’s faces and knowing that we were making a difference,” she recalled with emotion.
Although the foundation slowed down during her time as minister and with the arrival of the pandemic, Coventry hopes to resume it soon. “I want it to be back up and running at full speed in the near future.”
“The competitive drive never goes away”
When asked what remains of her days as an athlete, Coventry replied: “The drive and competitiveness never go away. I have always tried to better myself, to find the next goal with purpose.“ However, she admitted that the transition from her sporting career was not easy. “After 20 years with a clear goal, it was difficult to accept that my Olympic career was coming to an end. But finding a path in the Athletes’ Commission helped me a lot.”
Coventry highlighted the importance of values in her leadership, especially the African concept of Ubuntu. “Ubuntu means that everything I do impacts you, and vice versa. We have to understand that we live in a huge ecosystem and we must thrive together.” For her, this principle will be fundamental in guiding the IOC and ensuring that all actors in the Olympic movement work in harmony.
“Olympic values are our compass”
In an increasingly divided world, Coventry stressed the importance of Olympic values: excellence, respect, and friendship. “These values have held the movement together for over 100 years. We can never compromise them. My goal is to find ways to reach more communities around the world and share these values with them.”
Coventry also spoke about how her family helps her stay focused. “My seven-month-old daughter keeps me grounded. When I come home after a difficult day, seeing her reminds me why we do this: so that they don’t have to go through the same challenges and can achieve their dreams.”
“No dream is too small”
Addressing young women, especially girls, Coventry offered an inspiring message: “No dream is too small because you never know where it will take you. Sometimes your friends won’t be the most popular, and that’s okay. Be strong, trust your abilities, and work toward your goals, even if they’re just for you.”
When asked how she would like to be remembered, Coventry replied, “I want people to say that I never changed. That I was always humble, approachable, and that the position didn’t change me, but I changed the position.”
With a mix of humility, determination, and vision, Kirsty Coventry is ready to lead the Olympic movement toward an inclusive and purposeful future. “I’m excited about this new challenge. Let’s do this.”
