PARIS, France (AFP) — Former swimming great Kirsty Coventry says she sees no problem in being a candidate to become the most powerful person in sport despite being a minister in the Zimbabwean government whose election in 2023 was described as neither “free nor fair.”

The two-time Olympic gold medalist — she has seven medals in all — has been sports minister of the southern African nation since 2019 and was reappointed in 2023 by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

She is one of seven candidates bidding to succeed Thomas Bach as president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and if successful she would break the glass ceiling of being both the first woman and first African to be elected.

At 41, she would also be the youngest ever president.

Being part of a government whose legality is disputed may, though, be problematic.

The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) criticized the 2023 elections saying they were “by no means free, fair and credible.”

Coventry, though, says being part of the government has permitted her to reform from within.

She said she would be at ease if she were elected and had to take a tough line with other governments and federations.

“I have learned so many things from stepping into this ministry role. I have taken it upon myself to change a lot of policies within my country and how things are done,” she said.

“I think every country has its challenges and issues.”

“Looking specifically at Zimbabwe, the 2023 election was the first time in over 20 or 30 years where there was no violence.”

“That’s a step in the right direction.”

Coventry says it would be a “huge thing” for the African continent if she is elected and would show the IOC is “truly a global organization.”

“For Africa, it would open up, I think, many opportunities for different leadership roles to say, right, as Africa we’re ready,” he said.

“We’re ready to lead. We’re capable of leading. We have the support. Let’s go. Let’s do it.”