SKORELINE

Coventry secured a decisive  49 out of 97 votes , beating six male candidates. PHOTO by BBC. In a landmark moment for women in sports leadership, Kirsty Coventry has been elected as the first female and African president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) , shattering long-standing barriers in the world of global athletics. The 41-year-old former Olympic swimmer secured a decisive 49 out of 97 votes , beating six male candidates, including Britain's Lord Coe, who managed only eight votes. Coventry, who has won seven of Zimbabwe’s eight Olympic medals , will officially assume office on June 23 , replacing Thomas Bach , and becoming the youngest president in the IOC’s 130-year history . Her first major event as IOC president will be overseeing the Milan-Cortina Winter Games in 2026 . A Win for Women in Sports Leadership Her election marks a transformational moment for gender equality in sports governance , proving that leadership in the Olympic movement is no longer...

Lilian Odira to represent Kenya in the women's 800m at the World Athletics Indoor Championships Nanjing. Photo COURTESY While it is commendable that 10 Kenyan athletes, with a strong female representation, will be competing at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, there is a growing sense of unease about the country’s performance trajectory in these indoor meets. With a total of 576 athletes, including 264 women, vying for glory, it is clear that Kenya is sending a squad with immense potential. However, it also highlights a fundamental issue: Why is Kenya only sending 10 athletes, and why does it seem the same few names, like Lilian Odira and Vivian Chebet Kiprotich, are being relied upon to carry the hopes of a nation? Kenya has long been a powerhouse in long-distance running, particularly on the global stage. The lack of substantial progress in indoor events, as demonstrated by the disappointing result at the 2024 Glasgow Indoor Games where the...