Kirsty Coventry hopes to “challenge the status quo” at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) should she be elected as its first female president.

The 41-year-old former swimmer would also become the youngest person and the first from outside Europe or North America to head the organisation in its 130-year history should she see off six other candidates and succeed Thomas Bach in March’s vote.

The Zimbabwean, who is Africa’s most-decorated Olympian, wants to go further in empowering female athletes by putting in place stronger safeguarding procedures and providing more support for mothers.

“I want to show people and women across Africa and the world: ‘Don’t be afraid of anything’,” Coventry told BBC Sport Africa.

“If you believe in something and know you can lead an organisation, don’t be too scared to put your hand up and do it.

“It’s time for women in Africa to stand up and lead, to not be afraid of leading, and to not be afraid of leading in a different way.”

Coventry won seven medals, including two golds, across the Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Games, and has served as her country’s minister of sport, arts and recreation since September 2018.

She is also currently leading IOC commissions overseeing progress on the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics and 2032 Brisbane Olympics.