Swimmer from Zimbabwe becomes first woman and African to head IOC as Coe crashes out

The Zimbabwean swimmer Kirsty Coventry became the first woman to lead the International Olympic Committee in its 131-year history after a stunning first-round knockout yesterday over a seven-strong field that included Britain's Sebastian Coe.

- Sean Ingle Costa Navarino

In a contest that had been expected to go through multiple rounds of voting, the 41-year-old won 49 of the 97 votes in the first round, giving her an immediate majority. She is the first African to become IOC president and becomes the most powerful woman in global sport.

But it was a crushing day for Coe, who only secured eight votes, putting him third behind the Spaniard Juan Antonio Samaranch with 28.

Coventry's victory came despite a manifesto that was widely considered bland, and a campaign that had started slowly. However, in the final few days before the secret ballot, strong lobbying from outgoing IOC president, Thomas Bach, and other senior IOC members proved to be crucial in tipping support her way.

Suddenly a contest that had been fought over in the shadows for months was all over in just two minutes: the time it took for the IOC's quixotic membership of royals, former athletes, politicians and billionaires to throw their weight overwhelmingly behind the seven-time Olympic medallist.

Coventry, who won her seven Olympic medals in swimming including gold in the 200 metre backstroke at the 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing Games, was full of smiles at the result.