IOC President Kirsty Coventry Sparks Outrage by Saying Olympic Athletes 'Shouldn't Be Paid'

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry, a former swimmer who won seven Olympic medals for Zimbabwe, faced sharp criticism from fellow athletes after declaring that competitors should not be paid bonuses at the Games.

During her first official visit to Oceania as IOC President, Coventry told New Zealand's Sport Nation channel: "I don't believe in paying athletes. I come from a small country, I come from a sport that doesn't necessarily pay athletes well, and I still don't think we should pay athletes at the Olympic Games."

Under current rules, the IOC does not provide stipends or salaries to Olympic athletes. Instead, competitors are funded through national sports federations, sponsors, self-financing, or the Olympic Solidarity Scholarship program – the same scheme Coventry herself once benefited from. In the same interview, Coventry stressed that the IOC needs to find more ways to directly impact athletes and help them on their journey to becoming Olympians. She also highlighted the need to identify talent and inspire athletes from smaller nations.

Coventry, 42, is a multiple Olympic and world champion and is regarded as Africa's most successful Olympian. She returned to the global spotlight after becoming the first female IOC president and the first African to hold the post in 2025.

Wave of criticism

Coventry's remarks came just days after the controversial Enhanced Games – an event that allows banned substances – awarded $250,000 for each gold medal. At that event, Greek swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev received $1 million in prize money for a "world record" in the men's 50m freestyle, though the result is not officially recognized. Olympic athletes reacted strongly on social media. Reigning Olympic champion Cameron McEvoy said Coventry's comments "could not have come at a worse time," alluding to the Enhanced Games as a financially more attractive option for athletes.

Former world and European champion Filippo Magnini criticized tournaments that "trample on sports values for the sake of spectacle" but emphasized that "90% of athletes end their careers with no future" and that athletes are the backbone of events like the Olympics. "Without athletes, you wouldn't exist," he said. Australian swimming legend Grant Hackett called the stance "outdated," while South African swimmer Roland Schoeman remarked bitterly: "The IOC loves the idea of 'Olympic values' as long as athletes are the only ones making financial sacrifices."

Many other athletes also spoke out. Canadian gymnast Felix Dolci and former British track and field athlete Greg Rutherford backed the swimmers' views. American rapper Flavor Flav, who sponsored the U.S. women's water polo team at the Paris 2024 Olympics, commented: "This is why I had to step up." Former Australian hurdler Sally Pearson compared: "Imagine telling a rock star they'll tour and perform to thousands but won't get paid; would they go?"

Calls for an athletes' union

The issue extends beyond prize money. The IOC can use athletes' name, image, and likeness (NIL) to promote the Olympics without compensation. In 2021, the U.S. National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) changed its rules to allow student-athletes to profit from NIL. When asked if the IOC would adopt a similar model, Coventry – who swam for Auburn University in Alabama – declined. She argued that athletes "enjoy beautiful venues, beautiful villages, and beautiful experiences" from the money the IOC raises.

Former long jumper Greg Rutherford called for the establishment of an athletes' union as soon as possible. He also pointed out that World Athletics became the first sports organization to award $50,000 to Olympic gold medalists. He contrasted World Athletics President Sebastian Coe – a former Olympian – who used his own experience to change the financial system, while his counterpart at the IOC holds firm on not paying athletes.

According to the IOC's financial reports, the organization generated $12.4 billion in the 2021-2024 cycle, primarily from global broadcasting rights. Nearly 74% of that money is redistributed to international sports. Meanwhile, the IOC President's salary is rumored to be $350,000 per year. Rutherford fumed: "I'm not asking for every athlete to become a millionaire. I'm asking an organization that makes $12 billion, charges countries for hosting rights, pays executives millions, prevents athletes from earning money, and owns the footage of their greatest moments to take a long look at itself."

Past controversies

This is not the first time Coventry has been embroiled in controversy. Most recently, the IOC under her leadership reintroduced gender verification tests for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, allowing only "biological females" to compete in women's events, excluding transgender athletes. South African track star Caster Semenya expressed disappointment over the decision, saying: "For me personally, when she is a woman from Africa, knowing how African women or women in the Global South are affected, it certainly hurts."

Earlier, at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, Coventry accepted a $100,000 bonus from Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe live on television, while the country was mired in hyperinflation. She also faced political controversy during her tenure as Zimbabwe's Minister of Sport starting in 2018.