Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe has been elected the 10th President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), marking a historic milestone as the first woman and first African to hold the position. The 41-year-old former Olympic swimmer secured 49 out of 97 votes in a secret ballot (投票表决) held during the 144th IOC Session in Greece on 20 March. She will officially assume her eight-year term on 23 June, succeeding Thomas Bach, who steps down after leading the IOC since 2013.
Coventry’s journey to the presidency is rooted in her remarkable athletic career. Competing in five Olympic Games from Sydney 2000 to Rio 2016, she earned seven medals — including back-to-back golds in the 200m backstroke at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 — making her Africa’s most decorated Olympian. Beyond swimming, she has held significant roles in sports governance, serving as Zimbabwe’s Minister of Sport since 2018 and as an IOC member since 2013. Her leadership experience includes chairing the IOC Athletes’ Commission and representing athletes on the World Anti-Doping (使用兴奋剂) Agency.
In her acceptance speech, Coventry emphasized her commitment to diversity and collaboration. “This election sends a powerful signal that the IOC is truly global and open to change,” she stated. She pledged to unify the Olympic Movement by incorporating ideas from all seven presidential candidates, highlighting the need for shared progress. Her immediate focus will be overseeing the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, with less than a year until the Games begin.
Outgoing President Thomas Bach praised Coventry’s election, expressing confidence in her ability to uphold Olympic values. Coventry’s priorities include addressing challenges such as athlete welfare and global representation. She also aims to inspire African nations, stating, “This is our time,” while honoring her Zimbabwean roots. Her unique perspective as both an elite athlete and a government official positions her to bridge gaps between sports, politics, and grassroots development.
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1.1. What is special about Kirsty Coventry’s election as IOC President?
A She is the youngest president in IOC history.
B She is the first athlete to lead the IOC.
C She is the first female and African president.
D She received all the votes in the election.
解析：选C。C 细节理解题。根据第一段的“marking a historic milestone as the first woman and first African to hold the position.”可知，Coventry是首位女性和非洲籍IOC主席（first woman and first African）。故选C。
2.2. What can we infer about Coventry’s athletic career?
A She focused only on swimming during her Olympic participation.
B Her success in sports helped build her leadership reputation.
C She retired from swimming immediately after winning her first gold.
D Her medals were all earned in team events.
解析：选B。B 推理判断题。根据第二段内容可知，Coventry的运动成就（7枚奖牌）和后续政治角色（体育部长、IOC成员）共同塑造了她的领导资历。故选B。
3.3. What will be Coventry’s first major task as IOC President?
A Organizing the 34th Summer Olympic Games.
B Addressing doping issues in professional sports.
C Overseeing the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina.
D Revising the Olympic Charter to include new sports.
解析：选C。C 细节理解题。根据第三段的内容可知，Coventry的“immediate focus”是2026年米兰冬奥会。选项A（2024巴黎）未提及；B（兴奋剂）和D（修订章程）属于长期目标。故选C。
4.4. What is Thomas Bach’s attitude toward Kirsty Coventry’s new role?
A He anticipates great success.
B He has a wait-and-see attitude.
C He believes she might face difficulties.
D He expects minor improvements.
解析：选A。A 观点态度题。根据最后一段可知，巴赫赞扬考文垂的当选，并对其维护奥林匹克价值观的能力表示信心，这暗示他认为考文垂能在职位上取得好成果。故选A。
