Sports Correspondent

Kirsty Coventry, a leading candidate to become the next president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), has sparked controversy with her strong stance on transgender athletes.

Coventry has expressed support for a blanket ban on transgender athletes competing against individuals of the opposite sex, which could significantly impact those aiming to participate in such events and pursue Olympic gold.

In addition to her Olympic achievements, Coventry serves as Zimbabwe’s Sports Minister.

The former Olympic swimmer, who has been a member of the IOC executive board since 2018, is now campaigning for the IOC presidency. Coventry has voiced her belief in a blanket ban on transgender athletes in Olympic events, as reported by the UK’s The Telegraph.

“Protecting women’s sports and maintaining fairness in female categories is crucial,” Coventry said. “It’s a priority for us all to come together on this issue.”

She pointed to increasing scientific research, stating, “We aren’t discussing how this issue affects men’s sports, which highlights the need to protect women’s sports.”

Coventry, who has earned seven Olympic medals in swimming, including two golds, also argued that “transgender women possess physical advantages in female categories, which could deny women equal opportunities.” Drawing from her experience, she emphasized the challenges of allowing men to compete against women, especially in contact sports.

Coventry also reflected on her role overseeing the Paris Olympics, where athletes Lin Yuting and Imane Khelif won gold in boxing, despite having been previously excluded from competing in women’s events by the International Boxing Association. “We will always learn from such experiences,” Coventry noted, adding that the Paris Olympics were an important moment for such lessons.