Kirsty Coventry, president of International Olympic Committee (IOC), attends the IOC Executive Board meeting before the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Jan. 31, 2026. (Antonio Calanni/Pool via Xinhua)
MILAN, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- As the Olympic flame prepares to travel to Milan, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry is drawing on her champion mindset, comparing the final stages of preparation for the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Games to standing on the starting blocks.
In an exclusive interview with the Olympic Information Service, the former swimming legend, now steering her first Olympic Games as IOC President, projected calm confidence mixed with the pragmatic anticipation of an athlete who knows "not everything is going to go to plan."
"I'm somewhat calm, but I'm sure that could potentially change," Coventry said, acknowledging the immense scale of the event.
She expressed unwavering faith in her team, stating, "I have an incredible team. Everyone is a real expert in what they do... I'm feeling really happy with where we are with everything."
With just one week to go before the opening ceremony, Coventry said that Olympic venues are "looking great," highlighting significant progress on key sites like the Milan Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena (MH1).
"From where we were to where we are today, we've made huge strides," she said, praising the collaboration between the Organizing Committee and the government authorities.
Recent test events have proceeded smoothly, with only "little things" to fix, she added.
Coventry, 42, seamlessly drew parallels between her past and present roles. The current phase, she described, is like having done all the physical training.
"We've done everything we can to set these Games up for success. We now have to release it and let it go," she said.
She compared the coming weeks to swimming the grueling 400m individual medley, an event requiring constant evaluation and adjustment - a metaphor for the dynamic management of the global event.
Her experience as a world-class competitor also informed her leadership philosophy. She emphasized moving from self-criticism to constructive support, a lesson from her athletic career. "You're only as strong as your weakest link," Coventry noted, stressing the importance of a team where everyone is accountable and uplifts one another.
Reminding that her "support base" has expanded from Zimbabwe's 16 million to the world's eight billion, she laughed, "Thanks for bringing that to my reality." She framed this not as a singular burden but as a shared responsibility among the IOC, worth bearing for the opportunity to showcase "the best of humanity."
Looking beyond 2026, Coventry addressed the pressing issue of climate change on the Olympic movement, particularly for Winter Games. "It's something that as a movement we have to look at," she stated, revealing it is under review by an Olympic program working group.
She challenged historical hosting models, warning that traditional regions may soon be unviable. Furthermore, she called for a broader conversation within the "sporting family" to address a congested global sports calendar.
As a spectator, Coventry expressed awe for all winter sports athletes' bravery but shared a personal excitement for figure skating, inspired by her young daughter who is learning the sport.
If forced to compete herself? "What's the safest one?" she joked, ruling out any downhill event. "The safest I'd probably get to would be curling. I think I'd be a good sweeper."
So, when does the "race" truly begin? For Coventry, the moment of the dive into the Games is clear: the opening ceremony.
"Everything leading up to that point is the weight training and the stretching... The opening ceremony is where we say, 'Right, it's Games-time. Let's go'." ■
Kirsty Coventry (C), president of International Olympic Committee (IOC), attends the IOC Executive Board meeting before the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Jan. 31, 2026. (Antonio Calanni/Pool via Xinhua)
Kirsty Coventry (top C), president of International Olympic Committee (IOC), attends the IOC Executive Board meeting before the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Jan. 31, 2026. (Antonio Calanni/Pool via Xinhua)
