In a significant milestone for the International Olympic Committee (IOC), President-elect Kirsty Coventry was warmly welcomed at Olympic House in Lausanne, Switzerland, by outgoing President Thomas Bach, IOC Director General Christophe De Kepper, and enthusiastic IOC staff on Monday.
The gathering marked Coventry’s first visit as President-elect, following her historic election just two weeks ago, which made her the first female President in IOC history.
As Coventry entered the iconic Olympic House, she was met with an enthusiastic round of applause from the staff, a true testament to her remarkable achievements as a double Olympic champion swimmer from Zimbabwe and her reputation as a passionate sports administrator.
To commemorate the occasion, Coventry was presented with a bouquet of flowers by President Bach, symbolizing a seamless transition of leadership.
In her heartfelt address to the IOC team, Coventry expressed her profound gratitude and excitement for her new role. “Wow. This is going to be etched in my memory for a long time. I am incredibly humbled to be here,” she said.
Reflecting on her journey, she recalled her younger self: “I think as a nine-year-old girl, I did not think I’d ever be standing here getting the opportunity to give back to this Movement.”
Her commitment to fostering the dreams of young athletes resonated throughout her speech, emphasizing the Ubuntu philosophy of “I am because we are” as the foundation for her leadership.
