Who is Kirsty Coventry, first woman and African to become president of International Olympic Committee

Kirsty Coventry, a 41-year-old former athlete, has scripted history by being elected as the first woman president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). She is also the first African person to hold the position -- one of the most coveted in global sports.

She won 49 of the 97 possible votes in an election held earlier this week.

Africa's most decorated Olympian

Coventry, a former swimmer from Zimbabwe, is the most successful Olympian from Africa. She was the back-to-back Olympic champion in the 200 meters backstroke event in 2004 and 2008. She retired from swimming after the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in Brazil in 2016. She holds a total of seven Olympic medals -- more than anyone else from Africa.

Currently, she serves as a Minister of Youth, Sports, Arts and Recreation in the government of Zimbabwe.