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Kirsty Coventry becomes first woman to lead International Olympic Committee

Zimbabwean Kirsty Coventry became the first woman and African to be elected president of the International Olympic Committee on Thursday, saying it was an "extraordinary moment".

At 41, the two-time Olympic swimming champion is also the youngest ever person elected to the most powerful position in sports governance.

Coventry succeeds the German Thomas Bach, who steps down after 12 years, and told her fellow IOC members she would work with the six other heavyweight rivals she beat in the election.

"This is an extraordinary moment. As a nine-year-old girl I never thought that I would be standing up here one day, getting to give back to this incredible movement of ours," Coventry said.