IOC President Kirsty Coventry Releases New Statement On Athlete Payment Stance

Earlier in the week, International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry, an Olympic gold medal winning swimmer from Zimbabwe, publicly expressed her disapproval of paying Olympic athletes.

Coventry has since released a statement amid significant public disapproval over the comments, posting the following to the “athlete365” Instagram account:

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. When I was asked about it on camera, I did not repeat the words prize money – my mistake, lesson learnt.

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. 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.

As a former athlete, I am absolutely committed to finding more ways to directly support athletes on their journey.

Coventry clarified that her original comments were specifically about prize money rather than athlete payment broadly, noting she misspoke by not repeating the words “prize money” on camera. However, the distinction did little to quell the backlash, as prize money was central to the public and Olympic athlete frustration with her original comments, and several Olympians made their voices heard in the comments section of the post.

Reigning Olympic champion and newly minted world record holder in the men’s 50m freestyle, Australia’s Cameron McEvoy, wrote, “If every athlete who competes at the Olympics is paid $10k as an appearance fee, and every gold/silver/bronze earns 100K/60K/25K (including individuals on teams) then that would be around $180m – which is only 1.5% of the quadrennial revenue ($12 billion) the IOC generates. For reference, the NBA has a 50% revenue share with the players. You can have prize money and pay all athletes to help those who aren’t the absolute top and still be extremely comfrotable with your boatloads of revenue.”

Matt Richards, the 2023 World Champion and 2024 Olympic silver medalist in the 200 free who has helped Team GB to back-to-back 4×200 free relay golds at the last two Olympic Games, also spoke up, writing:

“Clarifying ‘prize money’ doesn’t change the reality @officialkirstycoventry – Rule 40 already restricts athletes from monetizing their own name and likeness during the Games, and now you’re confirming there’s no plan for direct financial upside either… So the organization generates billions from athlete performances while the athletes themselves are left hoping a sponsor notices them. This statement doesn’t change the fact that the people creating all the value are the only ones not sharing in it.”

Among the Olympians to weigh in under the post were Lucca Dotto, Lisa Curry, Josha Salchow, Sally Pearson, Lewis Clareburt, and Dan Wallace, among others.

Separately, Coventry also reaffirmed the IOC’s plans to cut sports for the Brisbane 2032 Olympics. Coventry told the Associated Press that “There is a path (back), it’s not just an end,” for future Olympics for the sports that are ultimately given the axe.

For reference, Brisbane’s bid included 28 sports, but that bid was made after the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, which had 28 sports. However, the LA 2028 Games is currently slated for 36, including five more implemented by the Local Organizing Committee: softball & baseball, cricket, flag football, lacrosse, and squash.

Coventry’s Background

Coventry was elected as the 10th President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in March 2025, becoming the first female to hold the role.

During her storied swimming career, Coventry was a five-time Olympian, making her debut at the 2000 Games in Sydney before winning Olympic gold in the women’s 200 backstroke in 2004, also earning silver in the 100 back and bronze in the 200 IM in Athens.

She then defended her gold medal in the 200 back at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, adding three more silvers in the 100 back, 200 IM and 400 IM. She also competed at the 2012 Olympics in London and the 2016 Games in Rio before announcing her retirement.

Coventry was also a three-time LC world champion, sweeping the 100 and 200 back in 2005 and then reclaiming the 200 back title in 2009. At the 2008 Short Course World Championships, she won five medals, including four gold in the 100 back, 200 back, 200 IM and 400 IM.