Imane Khelif, an Algerian boxer, has been making headlines at the Paris Olympics after her dominant performance has brought on accusations that she is actually a trans woman, but she seems to be staying strong despite the accusations.
Imane Khelif’s Olympic Journey
Imane Khelif began her journey towards becoming an Olympic medal-winning boxer with humble beginnings, selling scraps to pay for her boxing training in Algeria.
Khelif started her amateur boxing career in 2018 and quickly made a name for herself with a record of 38 wins and 9 losses, which included five knockout wins.
Khelif’s controversy began after she fought Italian boxer Angela Carini, a 25-year-old boxer from Naples, Italy, who has had an overall successful career, that led her to the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Always With Angela
Carini’s Olympic dream is driven by a promise to honor her late father, who said, “Angelina, a champion in boxing is a bit like in cycling. They see the last kilometre and you know what they do? They pedal even harder. So, go all the way, because I’ll always be with you.”
However, in a mere 46 seconds, these dreams were shattered when Carini’s most recent fight ended due to the intense pain inflicted by Imane Khelif’s punches.
After fighting Khelif, Carini said, “I felt a severe pain in my nose, and with the maturity of a boxer, I said ‘enough,’ because I didn’t want to, I didn’t want to, I couldn’t finish the match.”
Quarterfinal Victory
Khelif advanced to the semifinals by beating Hungary’s Anna Luca Hamori in a unanimous decision, showcasing her impressive boxing skills during this match.
Khelif’s performance was so dominant that it led many to question her abilities, and this led to the discovery that she was disqualified from the 2023 World Boxing Championships.
Khelif was disqualified for failing a “gender eligibility test” conducted by the International Boxing Association (IBA), but such tests have been widely discredited.
Despite her previous disqualification, Khelif was allowed to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), sparking significant debates about gender fairness and athlete safety in women’s sports.
Khelif addressed false reports about her gender, stating, “I want to tell the entire world that I am a female, and I will remain a female,” hoping to put the rumors to rest.
A Common Accusation
However, Khelif is not alone in facing these strange transgender accusations, as Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting has also been accused of being secretly transgender.
Khelif and Yu-ting are now dealing with constant online abuse and gender speculation despite both meeting all International Olympic Committee (IOC) criteria.
The IOC spokesperson Mark Adams defended the decision by stating, “Everyone competing in the women’s category is complying with the competition eligibility rules.”
Khelif’s Statement
“I send a message to all the people of the world to uphold the Olympic principles, according to the Olympic Charter, to refrain from bullying all athletes because this thing has effects, massive effects. It can destroy people,” Khelif said.
Now Khelif, 25, will face a familiar opponent, Janjaem Suwannapheng, who she previously defeated in the 2023 world championships before her controversial disqualification.
Imane Khelif’s semifinal fight is scheduled for 4:34 p.m. ET on Tuesday, August 6th, where it was broadcast on NBC/Peacock from Roland Garros Stadium, the French Open venue.
Guaranteed Bronze
Regardless of the semifinal outcome and the controversy surrounding her participation, Khelif is guaranteed to win a bronze medal for making it all the way to the semifinals.
By being guaranteed a bronze medal, Khelif has already made history as the first female boxer from Algeria to earn an Olympic medal, marking a significant achievement in her career.
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