International Olympic Committee (IOC) presidential candidate Kirsty Coventry says it’s time the organisation was led by a woman – but wants members “to have confidence in me that I’m the right person”.
The 41-year-old former swimmer would also become the youngest – and the first from outside Europe or North America – to lead the organisation in its 130-year history if she beats her six male rivals in a vote later this month.
“I don’t think it’s just about gender, the same way that I don’t think it’s just about being the only African candidate,” the Zimbabwean sports minister told BBC Sport.
“It really is about, ‘what does the movement need today’?
“I think being a double Olympic champion and having the experiences that I’ve had within our movement and outside, all bring a lot of value to ensuring I could lead this organisation.”
Coventry, who won the 200m backstroke at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics and is Africa’s most-decorated Olympian, is “very positive” about her chances of becoming sport’s most powerful figure when IOC members make their choice in Greece on 20 March.
When asked how she felt about being seen as the preferred choice of outgoing president Thomas Bach after his 12-year tenure, Coventry added: “He’s allowed the candidates to do what we need to do and talk to the members and it’s [their] decision. He’s been fair to all of the candidates.”
Coventry wants to “try to challenge the status quo and to bring change”.
“Being able to showcase the biggest and most wonderful sports event in the world, where you have athletes from all different backgrounds coming together…that for me is what the world needs right now,” she added.
“We have to make very good decisions so that this movement can remain relevant for generations to come. And, for me, being a mum of two young girls, I feel the weight on my shoulders is maybe a little bit more than that of the other candidates because I’m going have a constant reminder that I need to not mess this up.”
