Coventry, the new female leader of the Olympic movement

Adriana Díaz Reyes

La Jornada Newspaper, Thursday, June 26, 2025, p. a12

The appointment of a woman as president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has opened the door for more women to aspire to decision-making positions in sports.

Marijose Alcalá, who became the first female leader of the Mexican Olympic Committee in 2021, celebrated the election of Kirsty Coventry, as this represented a vote of confidence for the female gender.

By taking on such a distinguished and important position, she will have the opportunity to demonstrate that women possess the ability, leadership, and discipline. A former athlete and Olympic medalist like her can do a lot for the Olympic movement , Alcalá commented.

Coventry, the youngest IOC official ever and the first African, will face many challenges in the coming years. According to Marijose, the Zimbabwean native will need to strengthen the trust and credibility within the organization.

He now has a great responsibility. In his speech, he mentioned that he will harness the power of sport to maximize collaboration and engagement within the Olympic family. He will also strengthen partnerships to grow economically and lead sustainable development.

According to the former diver, Coventry will have to reinforce the work done by her predecessor, Thomas Bach.

She will represent us well, not only women, but the entire Olympic movement. She must continue the firm leadership left by Bach and continue the themes of gender equity, cross-cutting issues, and autonomy .

Paola Longoria, president of the Chamber of Deputies' Sports Commission, believes it's a good idea for a former athlete to take the reins of the IOC. The racquetball player shared that no one who hasn't experienced high performance can understand the needs of athletes.

There's new leadership. I'm sure she understands and knows what a national team needs and what needs to be improved. I'm very happy that a woman is leading the IOC; it's a step forward in the struggle we face to demonstrate that we also have the ability to manage such important organizations , she commented.

The racquetball player hopes that Coventry's election will promote equality in issues such as salary payments.

I've always said it: men still excel more in some sports, and the wage bill in terms of prize money is still not the same in both branches. We continue to fight for that equality; together, we're breaking these glass ceilings, opening up opportunities for women in positions that were previously reserved for men.

Women have only one job in sports: to crown champions with wreaths , said Pierre de Coubertin about female participation in the Olympics, an idea Longoria disagrees with.

Today, we have the opportunity to showcase our skills and abilities to compete for decision-making positions. Several women have served on the Sports Commission, such as Marijose Alcalá, Jackie Nava, and Ana Guevara; in recent years, we've grown beyond our wildest dreams. I'm proud to see so many secretaries and representatives supporting sports, and we will continue in the pursuit of equality , the multi-medalist asserted.