International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry has clarified her position on Olympic prize money following criticism and debate sparked by com...
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry has clarified her position on Olympic prize money following criticism and debate sparked by comments she made during a visit to New Zealand.
Coventry addressed the issue through the IOC’s Athlete365 platform after social media discussions intensified over remarks linked to athlete payments at the Olympic Games. The Zimbabwean Olympic champion acknowledged that she made a communication mistake during the interview.
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“When I was asked about it on camera, I did not repeat the words prize money, my mistake, lesson learnt,” Coventry said in her statement.
The comments marked a rare public acknowledgement of a communication error by Coventry, who recently became the first female president of the International Olympic Committee.
Despite acknowledging the mistake, Coventry maintained her position on Olympic prize money, saying she does not believe athletes should receive direct prize money at the Olympic Games because it would benefit only a small number of competitors.
“I have always said that I don’t believe in paying athletes prize money at the Olympic Games, as this would benefit only a very small number of athletes,” she said.
Coventry said the IOC should instead focus on creating systems that directly support a larger number of athletes throughout different stages of their sporting careers. According to her statement, support should extend from aspiring Olympians to athletes transitioning into life after professional sport.
Drawing from her own experience as an athlete, Coventry said athlete welfare remains one of her priorities as IOC president. The former swimmer is one of Zimbabwe’s most successful Olympians, having won two Olympic gold medals during her career.
“As a former athlete, I am absolutely committed to finding more ways to directly support athletes on their journey,” she said.
The debate around Olympic prize money has become a growing topic within international sport as some organisations and federations consider new ways of financially rewarding athletes competing at elite events.
Coventry’s remarks attracted widespread attention partly because of her new leadership role at the IOC and her influence within global sport. Her clarification was aimed at addressing confusion around whether she had changed her views on athlete compensation at the Olympic Games.
For Zimbabwe, Coventry’s position as IOC president continues to carry national significance. She remains one of the country’s most recognised sporting figures and one of Africa’s most prominent voices in international sport administration.
Her latest statement is likely to continue discussions around how the IOC supports athletes financially while balancing development programmes, athlete welfare initiatives and broader Olympic funding structures.
The controversy also highlights the growing scrutiny faced by global sports leaders, particularly on issues linked to athlete rights, funding and the future direction of international sporting organisations.
