Imane Khelif is guaranteed, at worst, a bronze medal
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In a stirring moment at the Olympics, Algerian boxer Imane Khelif clinched a medal in the women’s 66kg division and addressed her critics with a brief yet powerful message.
Khelif, who had previously faced controversy over her gender due to gender testing issues, continues to compete in the women’s category. Despite the challenges, she remains steadfast in her position.
Imane Khelif of Algeria is seen ahead of the fight against Angela Carini of Italy.
After her victory over Hungarian boxer Anna Luca Hamori, Khelif confidently declared, “I am a woman.” With this win, she advanced to the semifinals, ensuring at least a bronze medal for herself.
IOC President Thomas Bach showed support for Khelif and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting, who both faced disqualifications from the IBA during last year’s world championships over alleged eligibility tests.
Both athletes had consistently competed in IBA events without issues for years. However, the testing process by the IBA was criticized for its lack of transparency.
Algeria’s Imane Khelif is shown prior to the match against Hungary’s Anna Luca Hamori at the Paris Olympic Games on Aug. 3, 2024.
Thomas Bach emphasized, “We have two boxers who are born as a woman, raised as a woman, have passports as women, and have been competing for years as women. There was never any doubt about them being women.”
The IOC has criticized the IBA’s testing methods, labeling them as “flawed.”
Khelif’s mother expressed her pride on Algerian television, praising her daughter’s courage in the face of significant adversity.
The controversy reached new levels when Italian boxer Angela Carini forfeited her match against Khelif early into their bout, further spotlighting the ongoing debate.
Algeria’s Imane Khelif celebrates after defeating Hungary’s Anna Hamori Luca at the Paris Olympic Games on Aug. 3, 2024.
Khelif will next compete for a chance to enter the gold medal bout on Tuesday at 4:34 p.m. ET, facing Thai boxer Janjaem Suwannapheng.
