Kirsty Coventry Clarifies Olympic Prize Money Comments After Social Media Backlash
International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Kirsty Coventry has moved to clarify comments attributed to her regarding Olympic prize money after portions of a recent interview sparked widespread debate and criticism on social media.
The Zimbabwean swimming legend said her remarks were taken out of context during an interview conducted while she was visiting New Zealand, leading to misunderstanding around her position on athlete payments.
Coventry explained that confusion arose after she did not repeat the phrase “prize money” when answering a follow-up question on camera, which contributed to the controversy.
“Some of you might have seen social media posts about an interview I gave during my visit to New Zealand when I had a conversation with a journalist about paying prize money to athletes,” Coventry said.
“When I was asked about it on camera, I did not repeat the words prize money — my mistake, lesson learnt.”
She went on to stress that her comments were misinterpreted and reaffirmed that her focus has always been on supporting a wider pool of athletes rather than limiting financial rewards to only a small number of medal winners.
“Yes, 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 explained.
Coventry added that the International Olympic Committee’s role should be centred on developing systems that support athletes throughout their careers and beyond competition.
“I do believe our role as the IOC is to find ways to directly support a large number of athletes on their journey to becoming Olympians, at the Olympics and as they transition into life after sport,” she said.
Her clarification comes amid ongoing global discussions about athlete compensation, funding models, and financial support structures within Olympic sport.
Coventry, Africa’s most decorated Olympian, also reaffirmed her commitment to athlete welfare, drawing from her personal experience as an elite competitor.
“As a former athlete, I am absolutely committed to finding more ways to directly support athletes on their journey,” she added.
The former Zimbabwe sports minister made history earlier this year after becoming the first African and first woman to lead the IOC, a landmark achievement widely celebrated across the continent.
Coventry remains one of Zimbabwe’s most successful athletes, having won seven Olympic medals during her swimming career, including two gold medals.
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