One-Sided Victory for IOC's New Chief

Coventry says it's a 'huge honour' to become first woman and African to lead Olympic body

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COSTA NAVARINO, Greece - Two decades after winning her first Olympic gold in Greece, Kirsty Coventry was victorious again in the Mediterranean country as she was elected as the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) first female president on March 20.

The 41-year-old Zimbabwean, a former swimmer who won the women's 200m backstroke at Athens 2004 before retaining the title at Beijing 2008, also becomes the IOC's first African president. She is also the youngest elected to the most powerful position in sports governance.

Coventry, who also has four Olympic silvers and a bronze, will serve an eight-year term, with the possibility of a four-year extension.

"This is an extraordinary moment. As a nine-year-old girl I never thought that I would be standing up here one day, getting to give back to this incredible movement of ours," Coventry said.

"This is not just a huge honour, but it is a reminder to every single one of you that I will lead this organisation with so much pride, with the values at the core and I will make all of you very, very proud and, I hope, extremely confident in the decision you've taken today.