Sebastian Coe has been seen by some as a potential successor to Thomas Bach as president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). However, Coe indicated in an interview with AFP that the decision is not within his control.
Bach, who shares with Coe a background as an Olympic gold medallist, will oversee the upcoming Paris Olympics starting this Friday but is expected to step down next year after serving the maximum two terms since his election in 2013.
There have been suggestions from certain IOC members that Bach should pursue a third term, though this would require a change in the Olympic Charter. The two-term limit was implemented as part of anti-corruption reforms following the Salt Lake City scandal in the 1990s.
Coe, who is 67 years old and three years younger than Bach, has received praise for revitalizing the sport since becoming president of World Athletics in 2015.
“In Lausanne at the moment, there is considerable uncertainty,” Coe told AFP in the recent interview regarding the prospect of his candidacy for IOC president. “I think those questions are better directed at others.”
Coe, whose final term as head of athletics concludes in 2027, faced significant challenges when he assumed the role, succeeding Lamine Diack, who was involved in covering up Russian doping cases and was sentenced to prison.
Coe emphasized that he didn’t seek the World Athletics presidency out of certainty but rather because he found the position compelling and necessary. He highlighted the governance reforms and key decisions made under his leadership, including the banning of Russian and Belarusian athletes following the Ukraine invasion and introducing prize money for Olympic track and field winners.
Despite making decisions based on his moral compass, Coe stressed that they are not unilateral actions but are supported and shaped by a diverse and active council. He takes pride in the gender balance within his council and their extensive qualifications in athletics and national service.
“We’re the only international federation with an entirely gender-balanced council,” Coe noted, underscoring the elevated quality of discussions and decisions made under his stewardship.
