Kirsty Coventry, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts, and Recreation has been elected to serve as a full member of the International Olympics Committee.
The Olympics legend had served as a member of the International Olympic Committee’s Athletes Commission since 2013 and a member of its Executive Board since 2018.
At an IOC session held on July 17, the representative of Zimbabwe and current chair of the IOC Athlete’s Commission officially had her status within the organisation changed.
As a member of the IOC, the organisation responsible for making decisions surrounding the Games, she will serve an eight-year term.
She will, however, continue to hold her position in the Athletes’ Commission until the conclusion of the 2020 Games.
Coventry’s status change from active athlete to member comes just over a week after she was announced to be the future chair of the Athlete’s Commission.
She said in an interview following that meeting:
The main objectives I would like to focus on are the implementation of this great strategy that we have all worked so hard to bring together. We also need to ensure we continue to improve and be proactive with our communications. This will help us to build a stronger global athlete community that is truly reflective of the athlete representatives.
Meanwhile, Nicole Hoevertsz of Aruba was voted in as the organization’s new vice-president. She will replace Anita De Frantz, who complete a maximum of two four-year terms in the position.
A five-time Olympian for Zimbabwe, Coventry is tied for the most Olympic medals won by a woman swimmer, having won seven medals.
After retiring from the sport in 2016 following the Games, she began a career in politics, becoming Zimbabwe’s Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts, and Recreation beginning in September of 2018.
More: SwimSwam.