Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Kirsty Coventry

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Kirsty Coventry made an impact.

Kirsty Coventry is a Zimbabwean politician, sports administrator, and former competitive swimmer. A decorated Olympian and world record holder, she is the most decorated African Olympian. Coventry served as a cabinet minister in Zimbabwe from 2018 to 2025, initially as the Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, and later as Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture. Most notably, she became the president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in June 2025. She is the first woman, the first Zimbabwean, and the first African to hold the position, and only the second non-European IOC president.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

2000: First Olympics

In 2000, Kirsty Coventry competed in her first Olympic games.

2000: Sydney Olympics Qualification

In 2000, while in high school, Kirsty Coventry qualified for the Olympics in Sydney, becoming the first Zimbabwean swimmer to reach the semifinals at the Olympics. She was also named the country's Sports Woman of the Year.

2002: Commonwealth Games Gold Medal

In 2002, Kirsty Coventry won gold in the 200 metre individual medley event at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England, setting a Commonwealth Games record with a time of 2:14.53.

2003: NCAA Championship

In 2003, Kirsty Coventry helped lead the Auburn University Tigers to National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championships.

2004: 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens

At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Kirsty Coventry won three Olympic medals: a gold, a silver, and a bronze.

2004: NCAA Championship

In 2004, Kirsty Coventry helped lead the Auburn University Tigers to National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championships.

2004: 2004 Athens Olympics Medals

In 2004, at her second Olympics in Athens, Greece, Kirsty Coventry won three medals: a gold in the 200-metre backstroke, a silver in the 100-metre backstroke, and a bronze in the 200-metre individual medley. Her three medals were the only ones won by Zimbabwe in the 2004 Summer Olympics.

2005: 2005 World Championships in Montreal

At the 2005 World Championships in Montreal, Canada, Kirsty Coventry won gold in both the 100 m and 200 m backstroke and silver in the 200 m and the 400 m IM. She bettered her Olympic gold-winning 200 m backstroke time with a performance of 2:08.52.

2005: NCAA Championships and SEC Awards

In 2005, Kirsty Coventry was the top individual scorer at the NCAA Championships, capturing three individual titles. She was named the College Swimming Coaches Association Swimmer of the Meet, Southeastern Conference (SEC) Swimmer of the Year, and the 2004–05 SEC Female Athlete of the Year.

2007: 2007 World Championships, International Swim Meet and All-Africa Games

In 2007, Kirsty Coventry won silver medals in the 200 m backstroke and 200 m IM at the World Championships in Melbourne. She also won four gold medals at the International Swim Meet in Narashino, Japan, and seven gold and three silver medals at the All-Africa Games in Algiers, Algeria.

August 2008: 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing

In August 2008, at the Summer Olympics in Beijing, Kirsty Coventry won the silver medal in the 400 metre individual medley event, setting a new world record that was shortly beaten by Stephanie Rice. She also set a new world record in the semi-final of the 100 m backstroke. She won the gold medal in the 200 m backstroke, setting a world record time of 2:05.24.

2008: 2008 Manchester Short Course World Championships

At the 2008 Manchester Short Course World Championships, Kirsty Coventry broke the world record in the 400 m IM with a time of 4:26:52. She also won gold in the 100 m backstroke with a championship record time and broke another championship record in the 200 m backstroke, winning the final in a world record time of 2:00:91. She then shattered the short course World Record in winning the 200 m individual medley in 2:06:13.

2008: 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing

During the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Kirsty Coventry won four medals: a gold and three silver.

2008: 200 m Backstroke World Record at the Missouri Grand Prix

In 2008, Kirsty Coventry broke her first world record in the 200 m backstroke at the Missouri Grand Prix, bettering the mark set by Krisztina Egerszegi in August 1991. Her new record was 2:06:39. Coventry also won the 100 m backstroke and the 200 m IM at the meet.

2009: 2009 World Aquatics Championships

In 2009, at the World Aquatics Championships in Rome, Italy, Kirsty Coventry won a gold in the 200 m backstroke, setting a world record time, and a silver in the 400 m individual medley. She donated the US$100,000 she received from President Mugabe for her success at the Olympics to charity.

2010: Tyrone Seward becomes manager

In 2010, Tyrone Seward became Kirsty Coventry's manager, preceding their marriage in August 2013.

2011: 2011 All-Africa Games

In 2011, Kirsty Coventry won four gold and four silver medals in the All-Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique.

2012: 2012 London Olympics

In 2012, Kirsty Coventry competed in her fourth Olympic Games in London, England, but did not win a medal. She finished 6th in the 200 m individual medley and 6th in the 200 m backstroke. She carried the Zimbabwean flag into the opening ceremony for the first time.

2012: Election to the International Olympic Committee Athletes' Commission

In 2012, Kirsty Coventry was elected to the International Olympic Committee Athletes' Commission.

2013: Serves as an IOC member

Since 2013, Kirsty Coventry has served as an IOC member.

2015: 2015 African Games

In 2015, Kirsty Coventry won three golds and one bronze medals at her final African Games in Brazzaville, the Republic of the Congo.

2016: Final Olympics

In 2016, Kirsty Coventry competed in her last Olympic games.

2016: 2016 Rio Olympics and Retirement

In 2016, Kirsty Coventry made her fifth and final Olympic appearance at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, repeating her 6th-place performance in the 200 metre backstroke from 2012. She retired after the 2016 Olympics. She also carried the Zimbabwean flag into the stadium during the opening ceremony for the second and final time.

2016: Retirement from swimming

In 2016, Kirsty Coventry retired from swimming after her fifth Olympics, having won the joint-most individual medals in women's swimming in Olympic history.

September 2018: Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation

In September 2018, Kirsty Coventry served in the Cabinet of Zimbabwe as the Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation.

September 2018: Appointment as Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation

On 7 September 2018, Kirsty Coventry was appointed Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation in Zimbabwe's Cabinet.

2018: Chairperson of the IOC Athletes' Commission

In early 2018, Kirsty Coventry became a member of the IOC and was elected the Chairperson of the IOC Athletes' Commission.

September 2023: Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture

In September 2023, Kirsty Coventry transitioned to the role of Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture within the Cabinet of Zimbabwe.

September 2023: Re-appointment as Minister

In September 2023, Kirsty Coventry was re-appointed as Zimbabwe's Minister for Sports, Art and Recreation.

2023: Elected member of the IOC Executive Board

In 2023, Kirsty Coventry became an elected member of the IOC Executive Board.

September 2024: Candidate for IOC President

In September 2024, Kirsty Coventry was announced as one of seven candidates in the running to succeed Thomas Bach as IOC president.

March 2025: End of term as Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation

In March 2025, Kirsty Coventry ended her term in the Cabinet of Zimbabwe as the Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation.

March 2025: Elected as president of the IOC

On 20 March 2025, Kirsty Coventry became the first woman and the first African to be elected as president of the IOC at the 144th IOC Session.

June 2025: President of the International Olympic Committee

In June 2025, Kirsty Coventry became the president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). She is the first woman, the first Zimbabwean, and the first African to hold the office, while also only the second non-European president of the IOC.

June 2025: Inauguration as President of the IOC

On 23 June 2025, Kirsty Coventry was inaugurated as the president of the IOC, following her presidential handover to commemorate the founding of the first modern Olympic Games in 1894. Coventry said her vision is to restore the Olympics as a beacon of inclusivity and unity, ensuring that the Games are truly for everyone, regardless of their background or birthplace.