Kirsty Coventry has been elected president of the International Olympic Committee on the first ballot, making her the first woman to lead the organization.

Kirsty Coventry was elected president of the International Olympic Committee on Thursday and became the first woman and first African to get perhaps the biggest job in world sports. "It is a signal that we are truly global," the Zimbabwe sports minister and two-time Olympic swimming gold medalist said.

Kirsty Coventry has been elected the 10th President of the International Olympic Committee. The 41-year-old Zimbabwean was chosen in a secret ballot of seven candidates for an eight-year term of office.