The International Olympic Committee is on the brink of a historic shift. Why do you ask? Well, a longstanding tradition was broken as the most recent IOC leadership race boiled down. The elections brought multiple key personalities together in what would appoint their new leader for the time being. The whole process was held during the 114th IOC session, where all the members voted on who would take the place of Thomas Bach as the next IOC president. But what makes this so special? Well, this was the first a woman was elected for the position.

Against the luxurious backdrop of the five-star Westin Hotel on Greece’s south coast, nearly 100 IOC members gathered for a vote that could reshape Olympic leadership. Among them were influential figures like FIFA president Gianni Infantino, the Emir of Qatar, and royalty from Liechtenstein and Saudi Arabia, adding prestige to the high-stakes decision.

Against this illustrious lineup, the IOC Media took to X to post the official decision, which declared that Kirsty Coventry was elected as the most recent head of the historic organization. In the process, she made history as not only the first woman IOC president. She also became the first African president hailing from Zimbabwe.

After winning this prestigious honor, Coventry said, “It is a signal that we are truly global.” Besides this win, Coventry is the Zimbabwe sports minister and 2x Olympic swimming gold medalist. In a dramatic turn of events, Kirsty Coventry pulled off a stunning first-round victory in a fiercely contested seven-candidate race. She receives an eight-year mandate into 2033 at the age of 41, which is young by IOC standards. How it all went?

With 97 IOC members casting their votes, the expectation was that multiple rounds would be needed to determine a winner. Yet, defying all predictions, Coventry secured the exact majority of 49 votes required—clinching the presidency outright. At just 41, she now embarks on an eight-year mandate stretching into 2033, making her one of the youngest leaders in IOC history. Her decisive win in what was considered the most unpredictable and hard-fought election in decades signals a new era for the Olympic movement. With this win, the IOC is making progress for women.

Women in the IOC are making progress

For over a century, women have fought for a meaningful place in the Olympic movement—first as athletes, then as decision-makers. The 144th IOC Session marked a significant moment, with key elections shaping the future of Olympic leadership. While much of the spotlight was on the appointment of a new IOC Vice President and Thomas Bach’s transition to an honorary role, another narrative simmered beneath the surface—women’s representation in positions of power.

In recent years, the IOC has increased female participation in various committees, with women now making up 41.1% of IOC members. This number seems promising, yet the top leadership positions remain overwhelmingly male-dominated. The presidency, held exclusively by men since the IOC’s inception in 1894, remains elusive for female candidates.

One might argue that incremental progress is still progress. The IOC boasts a record number of female executives, including influential figures like Nicole Hoevertsz, the first woman from Aruba to serve as an IOC Executive Board member. However, when it comes to decision-making power, the trend is clear—women often hold secondary or advisory roles rather than leading the charge.

The IOC has launched initiatives promoting women in leadership, such as the Gender Equality and Inclusion Strategy 2021-2024, but critics argue that many of these policies lack teeth. As of 2024, women constitute 57% of the IOC workforce, a figure that has remained steady since 2017. In terms of leadership, women now hold 50% of senior manager positions, up from 36% in 2017, and 30% of director roles, an increase from 18% over the same period.

There is no denying that progress is happening at the competition level. But governance is where the real challenge remains. Until a woman rises to the top of the IOC—not just as a committee member but as a president or key decision-maker—the debate will continue: Is this progress, or is it still just a well-orchestrated display of inclusivity?