Coventry, a former Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer from Zimbabwe and one of Africa’s most celebrated Olympians, made her stance clear during an interview with Sport Nation NZ. The IOC president explained that while she supports stronger financial support systems for athletes, she does not believe direct payments for Olympic participation should become part of the Olympic movement.
“I don’t believe in paying athletes,” Coventry said during the interview.
“I come from a small country, I came from a sport that doesn’t necessarily pay athletes very well, and I still don’t think we should be paying athletes at the Olympic Games.”
Her comments come at a time when discussions around athlete compensation continue to grow across international sports, especially following increased commercial revenues generated by major sporting events.
Despite rejecting the idea of direct payment, Coventry emphasized that athletes deserve more meaningful support throughout their careers. According to her, the focus should shift toward creating systems that help Olympians before, during, and after their sporting journeys.
“Now I do think we should find more ways to directly impact athletes,” Coventry added.
“To find ways to directly help them on their journey to becoming Olympians, while they are Olympians, and as they are finding ways into their new career transition.”
Coventry’s remarks have already generated strong reactions across the sporting world, with some supporting her vision of preserving the traditional spirit of the Olympics, while others argue that athletes deserve a direct share of the billions generated through sponsorships, broadcasting rights, and global partnerships.
The Olympic Games remain one of the world’s biggest sporting events, but unlike many professional leagues and competitions, most Olympians do not receive direct prize money from the IOC for participating or winning medals. Instead, athlete earnings often depend on sponsorships, endorsements, government bonuses, or federation incentives.
As the first African and first female IOC president, Kirsty Coventry’s leadership is expected to shape the future direction of global sports governance. Her latest comments have now added another major talking point to the ongoing conversation surrounding athlete welfare and Olympic reform.
With preparations already underway for future Olympic Games, the debate over athlete compensation is unlikely to disappear anytime soon.