Kirsty Coventry, 41 -year -old Olympic swimming champion, has become the first president in the history of the International Olympic Committee after achieving the absolute majority before its six male opponents in the first round of the vote conducted by the Assembly during the 144th session of the governing body of Olympism.
Coventry, of Zimbabuense nationality, is one of the most prominent figures in the history of African sport, at least the most awarded in the history of the Olympic Games, with a total of seven medals (two gold, four silver and one bronze).
After her withdrawal she became Minister of Sports of her country, while presiding over the CII athletes commission, one of the most influential bodies in the committee.
“A new era claim new leaders,” said Thomas Bach at the beginning of this 144th session, something that many saw how the final push of German to his favorite candidate.
Bach was also in charge of raising the poster with the name of Coventry with which the African became her substitute. He did it after a rapid versperty session, in which the members of the IOC only had to vote once. After the first round, Coventry has already achieved the absolute majority; That is, half of the votes plus one of all the casts. The result reinforces Coventry’s idea ended up being a consensus candidate due to the possibility that the vote would be distributed excessively among the seven initial candidates.
“This is not just a great honor, but a reminder of my commitment to each of you: I will lead this organization with great pride, and I will make everyone feel very proud,” Coventry began by the Assembly in his first words before them. «Thank you with all my heart, and now we can work together. This race was incredible and made us better, it made us a stronger movement. Thank you very much for this moment and thank you very much for this honor ».
Before the vote, the bets placed Coventry in a trio of favorites together with the British Sebastian Coe, president of the International Athletics Federation, and the Spanish Juan Antonio Samaranch Salisachs, whose options seemed to grow as the critical moment was approaching, perhaps for being considered the most continuous option of all.
Finally, the decision was much more determined than it seemed, and Coventry swept his companions.
#Kirsty #Coventry #president #International #Olympic #Committee
