Zimbabwean Kirsty Coventry is the new president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Topsport reported.
She is the tenth president of the IOC, with Coventry becoming the first woman to head the international headquarters since its creation in the 19th century. She is also the first president not from Europe or the United States.
The 41-year-old two-time Olympic swimming champion was elected at the 144th IOC Session in Olympia, Greece, in the first round.
Coventry replaces German Thomas Bach, who has been at the helm of the IOC for the past 12 years, spanning three terms.
A five-time Olympian with seven medals, Coventry beat six other candidates - Britain's Sebastian Coe and Johann Elias, Spain's Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr., Japan's Morinari Watanabe, Jordan's Prince Faisal bin Hussein and France's David Lapartien - in the presidential vote.
"This is not only a great privilege, but also a reminder of my responsibility to each and every one of you to lead this organization with honor, to make you all very, very, very happy. very proud and, I hope, satisfied with the decision you made today. Thank you with all my heart, but now we have work to do. This incredible competition has made us all better and stronger. Thank you very much for this moment, because it is a big part of it," Coventry said in his short speech.
Among the priorities on the new IOC President's agenda are harnessing the power of sport, maximizing cooperation and engagement, strengthening partnerships for mutual growth, promoting sustainable development, increasing credibility and trust.