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Message: [QUOTE="Nehanda, post: 29692, member: 2262"] Kirsty Coventry called it her life's longest half hour when she waited for election results. She came home yesterday to cheering crowds after making history. Last week, she became the first African and first woman to be picked to lead the International Olympic Committee. The 41-year-old sports star currently serves as Zimbabwe's Minister of Sport. She thanked everyone at Robert Mugabe Airport with tears in her eyes. She told the crowd they all shared her success because everyone helped make it happen. During voting in Greece, she couldn't hear what President Bach said after ballots were cast. Everyone thought they needed another round of voting until Bach left the room unexpectedly. They waited thirty minutes before learning the results. Coventry explained that sports usually give immediate outcomes, making the wait especially hard. When they finally announced her name, she felt proud to see Zimbabwe recognized worldwide. She believes this honor reflects all the work happening back home under the current leadership. Her Olympic journey started twenty years ago in the same country where she just won this new role. She earned seven Olympic medals, including two golds, across three different Games. Her big break happened in Athens in 2004, when she won Zimbabwe's first Olympic gold since independence. Her career came full circle when she returned to Greece for this election. The campaign lasted six demanding months. On her first day back in Greece, Coventry visited ancient Olympia and met the newly elected Greek president. When they talked, he mentioned she was the only female candidate. He told her ancient Olympia only elected women as mayors, which she jokingly suggested he mention in his speech. She considers Greece special because it gave her medals in 2004 and this presidency in 2024. At forty-one, Coventry becomes the second-youngest IOC president ever. Only founder Baron Pierre de Coubertin was younger, at thirty-three, when he took charge. She laughed, saying she missed being the youngest by about ten years. She thanked her support team for handling extra work during her busy campaign months. She expressed deep thanks to her husband Tyrone and family for managing things at home. Many important sports figures welcomed her at the airport, including Olympic Committee president Thabani Gonye and Sports Commission chairman Gerald Mlotshwa. Other officials, such as Colleen de Jong, Allen Chiura, Titus Zvomuya, Eltah Nengomasha, and Eugenia Chidhakwa, joined ZIFA president Nqobile Magwizi to celebrate. Her journey from swimming pools to Olympic leadership shows what happens through hard work and determination. All of Zimbabwe and Africa can celebrate her historic achievement. She proved excellence comes through believing in yourself and staying resilient against challenges. [/QUOTE]

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