Olympic chief's steeliness honed by hard knocks

FIRST impressions can be deceptive but Kirsty Coventry showed that behind a sunny disposition she will have the mettle to deal with the trickiest of people and situations when she succeeds Thomas Bach as president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) today.

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Looming large on the horizon of the 41-year-old Zimbabwean - the first woman and African to occupy the post of the most powerful single figure in sport - is US President Donald Trump.

With Los Angeles hosting the 2028 Olympics, Trump will feature often on Coventry's agenda.

Trump has not been shy in giving public dressing downs to world leaders — notably Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa.

Judging by Coventry’s initial response, after a crushing first-round victory in the presidential election in March, she may have Trump's measure.

"I have been dealing with, let's say, difficult men in high positions since I was 20 years old,” she said, adding “communication will be key”.