The race to succeed Thomas Bach as president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will culminate on Thursday, with Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr., Sebastian Coe, and Kirsty Coventry emerging as the frontrunners.
Samaranch could make history by following in his father’s footsteps as IOC president, Coe could become the first Briton to hold the role, and Coventry, at 41, could be the youngest, first woman, and first African leader of the organization.
The election, held behind closed doors in Costa Navarino, Greece, will see over 100 IOC members vote on Bach’s successor.
The new leader will inherit a financially stable IOC but face growing geopolitical tensions, including navigating the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics under U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration.
Samaranch, a longtime IOC member, emphasized the need for steady leadership in a volatile global climate.
“It is not about the face or the gender, or the continent,” he told AFP. “Even in the easiest of times, we should elect the best person for the job.”
Coe, a two-time Olympic champion and former London 2012 chief, promises to give IOC members a greater voice if elected.
“My approach would be ‘don’t micro-manage,’” Coe told AFP.
Coventry, a seven-time Olympic medalist from Zimbabwe, has taken a quieter campaign approach but remains a strong contender.
“For Africa, it would open up, I think, many opportunities for different leadership roles to say, right, as Africa we’re ready,” Coventry said. “We’re ready to lead.”
Despite reports of Bach discouraging votes for Coe, supporters believe he remains a formidable candidate.
“Never write Coe off,” an IOC member told AFP. “He is a winner.” (AFP)
