Newly elected International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry arrived Sunday in her home country of Zimbabwe to a hero’s welcome as her victory is celebrated as a national milestone. The southern African country has faced years of isolation and sanctions by the United States and other Western nations.

Kirsty Coventry was elected president of the International Olympic Committee on Thursday and became the first woman and first African to get perhaps the biggest job in world sports. "It is a signal that we are truly global," the Zimbabwe sports minister and two-time Olympic swimming gold medalist said.

The 41-year-old Zimbabwe resident will become the 10th president in the 131-year history of the International Olympic Committee.