Online Reporter
INTERNATIONAL Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry has taken to social media to attempt to stem the backlash she has received in recent days following comments about athlete pay.
In an interview with New Zealand outlet, Sport Nation, Coventry stated that she does not “believe in paying athletes.”
A seven-time Olympic medallist from Zimbabwe, Coventry took over the IOC presidency last year from Thomas Bach.
Her comments about athlete pay came under immediate criticism, with numerous Olympians — active and retired — expressing their outrage over Coventry’s comments. Australians Leisel Jones and Cam McEvoy were among those sharing their viewpoints. While Jones noted that the glory of being an Olympian does not pay the bills, McEvoy argued that paying athletes is a reasonable option based on the IOC’s financial standing.
The world-record holder and reigning Olympic champ in the 50 freestyle, McEvoy called for a US$10 000 appearance fee for Olympians, and payouts of US$100 000 for a gold medal, US$60 000 for a silver medal and US$25 000 for a bronze medal.
Amid the backlash, Coventry used social media, specifically the athlete365 Instagram account, to clarify her initial comments.
She indicated she was discussing prize money in the interview. Here is the statement in full:
“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 wrote. “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.”
South African Olympic medalist Roland Schoeman is circulating a petition that calls for the ousting of Coventry and greater transparency from the IOC.
But 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 McEvoy, wrote, “If every athlete who competes at the Olympics is paid US$10k as an appearance fee, and every gold/silver/bronze earns 100K/60K/25K (including individuals on teams) then that would be around US$180m – which is only 1,5 percent of the quadrennial revenue (US$12 billion) the IOC generates. For reference, the NBA has a 50 percent 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 comfortable 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 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. —Swim World Magazine
