The Race to Olympia: It’s curtains for Kirsty’s six rivals as Zimbabwean secures overwhelming victory

It had been rumoured it could happen, but when it did it still left everyone stunned. Kirsty Coventry's first round victory to be elected IOC President ushers in a new era for the Olympic Movement

“We have a result.” At 4.49pm, just five minutes after the most unpredictable International Olympic Committee Presidential election for nearly 50 years had got under way, it was all over

Incumbent President Thomas Bach’s four-word pronouncement at the IOC Session in Costa Navarino left the media room stunned. We all knew that a lightning-fast one-round contest almost certainly meant that Kirsty Coventry - the candidate incessantly rumoured, but never officially acknowledged, to be Bach’s preferred candidate - had won an overwhelming victory.

IOC members quickly reached the same conclusion. Sebastian Coe, who had hoped to build momentum in a contest lasting multiple rounds, bowed his head. A gaggle of Coventry supporters celebrated buoyantly, the cat let out of the bag, apparently, when the 41-year-old ex-Olympic swimmer discreetly departed for a quick wash and brush up before setting out on her new life in the spotlight.