AFRICA'S most decorated Olympian, Kirsty Coventry, appeared to cherish her stint as Zimbabwe's Sports minister, as she addressed the media upon arrival from Greece on Sunday where she was elected the 10th president of the International Olympic Committee.
Coventry, two-time Olympic gold medallist, holds seven out of the eight Olympic medals Zimbabwe has ever won. The only other medal was won by the Hockey Women's team, known as the Golden Girls, who secured a gold medal at the 1980 Moscow Games in Russia.
She made history by becoming the first woman and first African to be elected as president of the IOC. Her tenure as Zimbabwe's Sport minister appears to have come to an end, as she prepares to take on her new role in June.
"I'm very honoured to have been part of this government for the last few years. I will be sad not to sit next to you anymore, Monica [Women’s Affairs minister Mutsvangwa],” Coventry said.
"But I'm grateful for the advice that all my colleagues have given me over the last few years."
She went on:
"I'm very grateful. I can't see Dr [Thokozile] Chitepo, but when I first came in, Doc, you were an incredible source of inspiration and support, so thank you for that. I'm proud of the work that we've all done.
"Don't worry, I'm not going to just run away tomorrow. We have a handover transition period, and I will formally take office on June 23rd. So, we have some time. To the ministry, I see a lot of my team from the ministry here. Thank you to the directors, deputy directors, CDs (chief directors), and acting CDs. I appreciated getting to know all of you and working together over the last few years."
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Coventry's connection to Greece has come full circle, having won her first gold medal there and now being elected IOC president in the same country.
"But Greece...will now hold a special place in my heart, as it did in 2004. Being elected as the 10th IOC president. Yes, the first woman, the first from Africa - not the youngest," she said.
"I know I would like to say the youngest, but actually, the youngest was our founding partner Pierre de Coubertin, who was 33 years old in 1896. So I have a good decade on him, but I'm the youngest in a long time."
She expressed excitement about her new job and a new challenge.
"This is going to be an exciting tenure, with lots of different challenges, but also lots of opportunities. As I did in 2004, after my swimming career and winning gold, I'm coming back home. I'm excited to share this experience with everybody over the next few days and weeks," Coventry said.
"I want to thank you again from the bottom of my heart for walking with me on this journey. Every one of you has played a significant role in my success, and I consider this not just my achievement, but our collective success."
Mutsvangwa paid homage to Kirsty Coventry's never-say-die attitude.
"As we celebrate March, this becomes evident — it's very significant, especially for the girl child and women everywhere, that they can achieve their goals. What's required is tenacity, dedication and high levels of commitment. I've witnessed the path you've taken Kirsty and how you broke down barriers during your campaign," Mutsvangwa said.
"You have put Zimbabwe on the global stage. We are excited. We will stand by you, support you and celebrate this milestone for Zimbabwe. I'll miss you - you're like a daughter to me in Cabinet. We've shared many moments, like the mornings before Cabinet meetings. I love you and I'll always be here for you. Your achievement is a testament to the fact that with dedication, girls and women in this country can achieve their visions and make us proud."
