Behind closed doors inside a resort in western Greece, International Olympic Committee members elected the first female president of the largest global sporting organization on Thursday. Kirsty Coventry will become the IOC's 10th president after members from across the world cast their secret vote on the first ballot.

The 41-year-old succeeds German Thomas Bach, whose tenure ends after 12 years. Bach will step down on June 23, with Coventry, who was said to be Bach’s preferred candidate, taking over as the 10th president in the 131-year history of the IOC the next day.

Kirsten Coventry has made history as the first-ever female president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).