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Message: [QUOTE="Nehanda, post: 29039, member: 2262"] Kirsty Coventry might break new ground Thursday at the International Olympic Committee General Assembly. The Sports Minister from Zimbabwe could become the first woman and first African to lead the IOC. At 41 years old, she would rank as the youngest president since Pierre de Coubertin, who started the modern Olympics and took charge at 33 back in 1896. Coventry always aimed high from childhood. She told her father at age 9 she wanted Olympic gold. He warned her about the tough journey ahead but supported her dream. She made it happen at 20, winning gold in the 200-meter backstroke at Athens 2004. She repeated this feat four years later in Beijing 2008. Her incredible career includes seven Olympic medals total - two gold, four silver, and one bronze. This record makes her the most successful female Olympian from Africa. Only Ethiopian runner Tirunesh Dibaba has surpassed her among African athletes with three gold medals plus two bronze. Coventry also broke multiple world records during her swimming career. She joined the IOC Athletes' Commission in 2013, representing competitors for eight years. She served as chairperson for three of those years and later became an Executive Board member. Her rising influence has sparked hopes across Africa that the continent might host its first Summer Olympics someday, though she remains practical about such possibilities. She believes interested African nations need to understand the massive scale of hosting Olympic Games. Coventry suggests a strategic approach through the All Africa Games to develop necessary infrastructure before attempting an Olympic bid. Her political experience as Zimbabwe's Sport Minister since 2018 has toughened her for these challenges. Coventry balances her professional life with motherhood. Her youngest daughter arrived less than six months ago, and her oldest child has already visited ten different countries at age six. She credits her husband and family network with making her busy schedule possible. She sees her career as proof women can succeed professionally despite traditional expectations. She remains passionate about gender equality issues. Coventry wants to create fewer barriers for her daughters as they grow up. She feels excited about leading this movement forward and helping women reach leadership positions across sports and society. [/QUOTE]

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