Former Auburn Swimmer Kirsty Coventry Elected IOC President
Kirsty Coventry, a former Auburn University swimmer and Olympic champion from Zimbabwe, has been elected as the president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). She becomes the first woman and the first African to hold the position, securing 49 out of 97 votes in the election held in Costa Navarino, Greece.
During her collegiate career, Coventry was a key member of Auburn’s national championship teams in 2002, 2003, and 2004. She won multiple NCAA titles and later went on to excel on the international stage. At the 2004 Summer Olympics, she earned a gold, silver, and bronze medal, followed by another gold and three silver medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. She also competed in the 2012 and 2016 Games before retiring.
In recognition of her achievements, Coventry was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 2023 and served as Auburn’s commencement speaker in the spring of 2024. She remains the university’s most decorated Olympian.
Auburn athletic director John Cohen praised Coventry’s leadership and accomplishments, highlighting her contributions to sports and governance. She is set to formally assume her new role as IOC president in June, succeeding Thomas Bach.
