PYLOS, Greece :The stunning first-round election of Zimbabwe's Kirsty Coventry as the next International Olympic Committee president made her the first female and first African to lead the IOC but more importantly ensured continuity once Thomas Bach departs in June.
Coventry, a multiple swimming Olympic champion and her country's sports minister, was long seen as incumbent Bach's preferred choice and her win on Thursday in the first round of voting against six other candidates will only underline the organisation's desire to continue along the German's path.
Bach has ruled the IOC for 12 years since 2013, growing its finances and reach, while also overhauling the Games' structure to make them more attractive to potential future host cities.
Coventry, 41, has held various posts within the IOC since joining in 2013 as a member of the athletes' commission, and was a staunch supporter of Bach's decision to stage the pandemic-hit Tokyo 2020 Games a year later even though many athletes opposed such plans due to fragmented preparations and health concerns.
She has towed the company line and is not expected to rock the IOC boat, as opposed to some of her fellow presidential candidates who had more radical proposals, including staging Olympics on five continents among other ideas.
Those were seen with some trepidation by the outgoing IOC leadership.
So it came as no surprise when Bach said he was relieved following the election result.
"I am very much relieved by the unity that the election result demonstrated," he told a press conference on Friday.
"This important pillar for the success of the Olympic movement has been strengthened. This is why you see me happy, relaxed and relieved."
Coventry beat senior IOC member Juan Antonio
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