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 swimmer, politician, and sports administrator who will become the first female and African president of the International Olympic Committee in 2025. Replacing Thomas Bach, her appointment is set for June 24th. She currently serves as Zimbabwe's Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, a role she has held since September 2018. Coventry is a decorated Olympian and former world record holder, recognized as the most successful Olympian from the African continent.

Sections (4)

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

2000: Olympic Medals Earned

From 2000-2016, Kirsty Coventry competed at five Olympics, winning all but one of Zimbabwe's Olympic medals.

2000: Sydney Olympics Qualification

In 2000, while still in high school, Kirsty Coventry qualified for the Olympics in Sydney and achieved several national and continental records.

2000: Reference to 2000 Olympics

The text references that 2012 Olympics was the first time since 2000 that Kirsty Coventry did not win a medal.

2002: 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

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, Kirsty Coventry won three medals at the Athens Olympics, including a gold in the 200-metre backstroke, marking Zimbabwe's first individual Olympic medal.

2004: Mention of 2004 Olympics

The text mentions Kirsty Coventry's 2004 Olympic medal count when discussing her performance in the 2005 World Championships.

2005: 2005 World Championships in Montreal

At the 2005 World Championships in Montreal, Canada, Kirsty Coventry won gold in the 100 m and 200 m backstroke and silver in the 200 m and the 400 m IM, improving on her 2004 Olympic medal count.

2005: 2005 NCAA Championships and Awards

In 2005, Kirsty Coventry was the top individual scorer at the NCAA Championships, winning three individual titles. She also received awards such as SEC Swimmer of the Year and the Honda Sports Award.

2007: 2007 World Championships and All-Africa Games

In 2007, Kirsty Coventry won silver medals at the World Championships in Melbourne and then seven gold and three silver medals at the All-Africa Games in Algiers.

August 2008: 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing

On August 10, 2008, Kirsty Coventry won a silver medal in the 400 metre individual medley event at the Summer Olympics in Beijing. She also set a new world record in the second semi-final of the 100 m backstroke event with a time of 58.77 seconds. She won a gold medal in the 200 m backstroke in a world record time of 2:05.24.

2008: 2008 Summer Olympics

At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Kirsty Coventry won four medals: a gold and three silver, leading to recognition and rewards from Zimbabwean officials.

2008: World Record Broken

In 2008, Kirsty Coventry broke her first world record in the 200 m backstroke at the Missouri Grand Prix.

2008: Manchester Short Course World Championships

In 2008, at the Manchester Short Course World Championships, Kirsty Coventry won multiple gold medals and set world records in the 400 m IM and 200 m backstroke, and a championship record in the 100m backstroke.

2009: 2009 World Aquatics Championships

In 2009, at the World Aquatics Championships in Rome, Italy, Kirsty Coventry won a gold and a silver medal. She won the 200 m backstroke world title with a world record time and came second in the 400 m individual medley.

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.

2012: Election to IOC Athletes' Commission

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

2012: Reference to 2012 Olympics performance

The text references that in 2016 Olympics, Kirsty Coventry repeated her 6th-place performance in the 200 metre backstroke from 2012.

2015: All-Africa Games

In 2015, Kirsty Coventry won four gold and four silver medals in the All-Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique.

2016: Olympic Medals Earned

From 2000-2016, Kirsty Coventry competed at five Olympics, winning all but one of Zimbabwe's Olympic medals.

2016: Final Olympic Appearance 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, and retired afterwards. She carried the Zimbabwean flag into the stadium during the opening ceremony for the second and final time.

2016: Retirement from Swimming

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

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

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

September 2018: Appointment as Minister

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

2018: Chairperson of the IOC Athletes' Commission

In early 2018, Kirsty Coventry was elected as the Chairperson of the IOC Athletes' Commission.

September 2023: Re-appointment as Minister

In September 2023, Kirsty Coventry was re-appointed as Zimbabwe’s Minister for Sports, Art and Recreation by President Mnangagwa. Following this, Coventry defended taking a position in Mnangagwa's government.

2023: IOC Executive Committee Membership

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

September 2024: IOC Presidential Candidate

In September 2024, Kirsty Coventry was announced as one of seven candidates to succeed Thomas Bach as IOC president. She advocated for restrictions based on biological sex for transgender athletes.

March 2025: Elected IOC President

On March 20, 2025, at the 144th IOC Session, Kirsty Coventry was elected as president of the IOC, becoming the first woman and first African to hold the position.

2025: Future IOC President

In 2025, Kirsty Coventry is slated to become the 10th president of the International Olympic Committee, making her the first woman and African in the role.