A important part of the history of Olympism This March 20 has been written, when the Olympic legend Kirsty Leigh Coventry (September 1983, Zimbabwe) has broken another barrier to women in sport when chosen is elected president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which makes her the first woman and the first African person in history to occupy the presidency of the body.
Born in the city of Harare 41 years ago, the ‘Gold girl from Zimbabwe’, which It is part of 0.1% of the white population of the country (according to the 2022 census), He formed at the Dominican Convent Institute between 1996 and 1999. It was during that period when he began to be part of the Olympic Swimming Team of his country, debuting in his first games a year later, in Sydney 2000, still being a high school student
With so only 17 yearsthe exnadora was planted in the semifinals of the 100 meters back. An achievement that served to be named Athlete of the Year of Zimbabwe and receive a Scholarship to go to study at the University of Auburnin Alabama (United States), where he graduated three years later in hotel management and restaurants, specialized in business.
He premiered his particular Olympic medal in his next Olympic experience, in Athens 2004: in Greece gold was hung in the 200 meters back, a silver in the 100 meters back and a bronze in the 200 meters styleswhich supposed the first Olympic medals of Zimbabwe in 24 years (since Moscow 1980 had not achieved a metal) and the only ones of the Zimbabuense team in those games.
AND four other Olympic medals He got in Beijing 2008, where he won as a double Olympic champion by repeating gold in the 200 back. In China, in addition, he added three other silver medals in the 100 back and 200 and 400 styles, which made it the African Olympic athlete – and Zimbabwe – more laureate in history to this daywith seven of the eight Olympic medals of his country.
Coventry, considered One of the great swimmers behind the back of the storyHe was not so lucky in his third Olympic participation in London 2012, where he did not get a medal, and ended his sports career after the games in Rio 2016, where he did not play metal either. To her brilliant Olympic palmraés, the Zimbabuense sum Three world titles in long pool and four in short pool.
Twelve years in the IOC and Minister of Sports in their country
The ‘Gold girl from Zimbabwe’ joined the Athlete Commission of the International Olympic Committee in 2012, organ that went to preside six years laterbecoming part of the Executive Committee of the IOC, and until 2021. He concluded his mandate as the highest representative of the athletes in the Olympic movement, the new president of the IOC was elected Individual Member of the Agencyposition that can be occupied until he turns 70.
Until the moment of his choice to succeed Thomas Bach at the head of the IOC, Harare’s athlete occupied the Coordination Commissions of the Dakar 2026 Youth Games and the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Gamescharges that will have to give in to other members of the IOC.
Coventry, who has two daughters born in 2019 and 2024, She is Zimbabwe Sports Minister since 2018 And, in 2015, he founded with his manager and husband, Tyrone Seward, the Kirsty Coventry Academy in its native harare, an organization that is dedicated to bring swimming to all communities with programs that provide free sports activities to children in disadvantaged areas of their country.
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