Kirsty Coventry was elected as the 10th president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Thursday, making history as the first woman and the first African to lead the global Olympic movement. The election was conducted through a secret ballot by over 100 IOC members during the 144th IOC Session in Greece. The 41-year-old Zimbabwean, who won the vote in the first round, will officially take office after June 23, succeeding Thomas Bach, who has served as president since 2013. In the first round of voting, a total of 97 valid ballots were cast since IOC members from a candidate's National Olympic Committee (NOC) were not eligible to vote. Coventry received 49 votes, securing the majority from the valid votes needed for the election. Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. finished second with 28 votes. Coventry's presidency is set for an eight-year term, with the possibility of seeking a four-year extension. At the first press conference after her election, Coventry highlighted that the bond between the international sports governing body and China is very strong, and she vows to strengthen the relationships with every single member. A former Olympic swimming champion, Coventry is one of Africa's most decorated athletes, having won seven Olympic medals, including two golds. She has been an IOC member since 2013 and also served as chair of the IOC Athletes' Commission, where she played a crucial role in advocating for athletes' rights and welfare. Other candidates also expressed their support for Coventry's leadership. Coventry has served as Zimbabwe's Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts, and Recreation since 2018, where she has focused on developing grassroots sports initiatives and enhancing opportunities for young people across the country to engage in sports. The 144th IOC Session also saw the election of Pierre-Olivier Beckers-Vieujant as new vice president and the confirmation of boxing as part of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics program. Shotlist: Costa Navarino, Greece - March 19, 2025: 1. Various of exterior of International Olympic Committee (IOC) session venue; 2. National flag of Greece, other flags; 3. Sign of IOC session; 4. Olympic rings; Costa Navarino, Greece - March 20, 2025 5. SOUNDBITE (English) Kirsty Coventry, IOC president-elect (starting with shot 4): "The relationship between the IOC and China is very strong, it always has been and we will continue that way. For the IOC, we represent 206 national Olympic Committees and many different international federations so the relationships with every single individual is extremely important. And that would be something I would take my time with over the next few months, then again also with the IOC members. So the entire stakeholder group will be able to take time to really get to know each other and to strengthen on those relationships."; 6. Sign of IOC session; 7. SOUNDBITE (English) Thomas Bach, incumbent IOC president: "I would like to congratulate Mrs. Kirsty Coventry for her election as the 10th president of the IOC. I think she will have a very strong mandate with this clear winning of the first round, which is also giving a great signal of unity for the Olympic movement."; Costa Navarino, Greece - March 19, 2025 8. Various of media center; Costa Navarino, Greece - March 20, 2025 9. SOUNDBITE (English) Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr., IOC presidential candidate: "It will give her a very very strong, extremely strong support from the IOC membership to start her presidency. So I think it's a good result."; 10. SOUNDBITE (English) David Lappartient, IOC presidential candidate: "About the next step is to work with the president, so I congratulate Kirsty Coventry, she has done an amazing campaign. The result is clear, so I just told her that we will be behind her."; FILE: Zimbabwe - 2017 11. Various of Coventry playing football with girls. [Restriction - No access Chinese mainland]