Latest news with #OlympicMedals
Irish Times
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Kirsty Coventry vows to stay humble as the first female president of the IOC
Kirsty Coventry has promised to not let power go to her head when she becomes the first woman president of the International Olympic Committee next week. Her predecessor, Thomas Bach, would always stay in a suite paid for by the IOC at the five-star Lausanne Palace hotel, costing over €2,000 a night, whenever he was in the city. However, the Zimbabwean confirmed her family would not be following suit. 'We won't be staying in the Palace,' she said. 'I really want my kids to grow up doing the same thing that I did, making beds and doing our chores and being kids.' Coventry, who won seven Olympic medals during her swimming career, said the significance of being the first woman IOC president had hit her only when she started reading the messages of support from other women. Asked for more details, Coventry said: 'I think I will start crying, so might have to do that another time. But the sentiments were really just around: 'Thank you;' 'You're such an inspiration;' 'This is so incredible.' READ MORE 'I had a coworker of mine come up to me. His mom had called him and said: 'Never in my lifetime did I ever think I'd get to see a woman leading the movement that you're working for,' and that was really special. There's been a lot of moments like that. Those are things I will hold on to in the future, when the road gets bumpy.' Coventry also made it clear she wanted IOC members to feel free to speak their minds and had invited them to stay two extra nights in Lausanne next week to have a 'pause and reflect workshop' to hear their ideas. 'The way I like to lead is with collaboration,' she said. 'I like people to say: 'Yes, I had a say and this was the direction that we went.' That way you get a really authentic buy-in.' The 41-year-old made it clear she campaigned for the IOC job to change people's lives for the better and not for the prestige involved. 'After I was elected my husband started giggling at the breakfast table and he looked at me and he goes: 'Do you realise you're the most powerful person in sport?'' she said. 'And I was like: 'What are you talking about?' For me, it's not about the title. It wasn't about power. Sometimes those things get in the way and they make you focus on maybe the wrong things. It's just not who I am. 'But I'm very proud we have elected our first female president. And I'm going to do my best to ensure that it's a successful journey.' – Guardian
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kirsty Coventry vows to stay humble as the first female president of the IOC
Kirsty Coventry will take over from Thomas Bach (right) as president of the IOC next week. Kirsty Coventry will take over from Thomas Bach (right) as president of the IOC next week. Photograph: Thanassis Stavrakis/AP Kirsty Coventry has promised to not let power go to her head when she becomes the first female president of the International Olympic Committee next week. Her predecessor, Thomas Bach, would always stay in a suite paid for by the IOC at the five-star Lausanne Palace hotel, costing about £2,000 a night, whenever he was in the city. However, the Zimbabwean confirmed her family would not be following suit. Advertisement Related: Kirsty Coventry's in-tray: six big issues facing IOC's new president 'We won't be staying in the Palace,' she said. 'I really want my kids to grow up doing the same thing that I did, making beds and doing our chores and being kids.' Coventry, who won seven Olympic medals during her swimming career, said the significance of being the first female IOC president had hit her only when she started reading the messages of support from other women. Asked for more details, Coventry said: 'I think I will start crying, so might have to do that another time. But the sentiments were really just around: 'Thank you;' 'You're such an inspiration;' 'This is so incredible.' 'I had a co-worker of mine come up to me. His mom had called him and said: 'Never in my lifetime did I ever think I'd get to see a woman leading the movement that you're working for,' and that was really special. There's been a lot of moments like that. Those are things I will hold on to in the future, when the road gets bumpy.' Advertisement Coventry also made it clear she wanted IOC members to feel free to speak their minds and had invited them to stay two extra nights in Lausanne next week to have a 'pause and reflect workshop' to hear their ideas. 'The way I like to lead is with collaboration,' she said. 'I like people to say: 'Yes, I had a say and this was the direction that we went.' That way you get a really authentic buy-in.' The 41-year-old made it clear she campaigned for the IOC job to change people's lives for the better and not for the prestige involved. 'After I was elected my husband started giggling at the breakfast table and he looked at me and he goes: 'Do you realise you're the most powerful person in sport?'' she said. 'And I was like: 'What are you talking about?' For me, it's not about the title. It wasn't about power. Sometimes those things get in the way and they make you focus on maybe the wrong things. It's just not who I am. 'But I'm very proud we have elected our first female president. And I'm going to do my best to ensure that it's a successful journey.'
Reuters
3 days ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Chinese fans bid emotional farewell to retiring 'Uncle Boll'
June 17 (Reuters) - Chinese table tennis fans bid an emotional farewell to their 'Uncle Boll', German former world number one Timo Boll who challenged China's long-time dominance of the sport. The 44-year-old, who retired from international competition last year with four Olympic medals (two silver and two bronze), played his final professional match in Frankfurt on Sunday. "Thank you to the Chinese fans for your deep affection that crossed national borders," Boll posted on Weibo after his team lost the Bundesliga final. "From Ma Lin to Fan Zhendong, every clash with a great opponent has been one of my most cherished honours," Boll said, referring to two Chinese Olympic champions. The post received millions of views in China, where table tennis is widely regarded as the country's national sport.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Children get to hold Olympic medals as part of Careers Day at school in Leigh
Children at a school in Leigh were given the chance to hold Olympic medals at a Careers Day event. West Leigh School hosted the event, engaging pupils in various activities to explore skills needed for diverse jobs. Workshops and presentations were delivered by parents and community members, including the MP for Southend West and Leigh, David Barton-Sampson. The highlight was an assembly with Olympic gymnast Georgia-Mae Fenton. She shared her career journey, achievements, and even demonstrated some skills. She also got headteacher Mr Aggus to perform cartwheels. The children were thrilled to hold her medals and ask questions about her life as a gymnast. A spokesperson for the school said: "It was a brilliant day with children engaging in various activities that allowed them to explore skills required for different jobs "They attended workshops and presentations delivered by parents and members of the community."
Malay Mail
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Malay Mail
Kyle Chalmers aims for fourth consecutive 100m medal at Los Angeles Olympics
ADELAIDE, June 8 — Champion Australian swimmer Kyle Chalmers said today he wants to keep going until the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, with new 50m events added to the programme a major incentive. The 26-year-old previously suggested the Paris Olympics last year was his third and last, but he now plans to push on. It follows World Aquatics in April adding 50m backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly to the agenda for the first time at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. Chalmers is best known as a freestyler, but is also a formidable butterfly swimmer. 'The new 50s format will keep me swimming until Brisbane 2032,' he said on the eve of bidding to make his fifth world championship team at the Australian trials in Adelaide. 'I am in the very best position I've been in a very long time. My body is feeling good. And I've been swimming some really fast times. I can see myself swimming until Brisbane 2032.' Previously, only freestyle was raced over the sport's shortest distance at the Olympics, despite all four strokes being on the world championship schedule. Chalmers won 100m freestyle gold at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, and silver at the next two Games. Should he make the podium again in Los Angeles, he will be the first man to win 100m medals at four consecutive Olympics. 'LA is a massive target of mine,' admitted Chalmers, who has reaped nine Olympic and 12 world championship medals and has been revitalised by changing coaches this year. He clocked 47.27 seconds over 100m in Norway in April—his fourth-fastest time ever—and followed it up with a personal best 21.78 in the 50 free. A week later, he set a new best of 22.89 in the 50m butterfly. The Australian swimming trials run from June 9-14 ahead of the world championships in Singapore in July. — AFP
