Women’s boxer Imane Khelif of Algeria faced heavy scrutiny and online harassment throughout the 2024 Paris Olympic Games as a result of questions regarding her gender. And after winning a gold medal, she clapped back at her critics.
Khelif was disqualified from the 2023 World Championships by the Russian-dominated International Boxing Association in a sudden and highly controversial decision as the organization claimed she failed a gender eligibility test – of which they have failed to provide any basic details. She was allowed to compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics, meeting all gender requirements from the International Olympic Committee.
This sparked heavy scrutiny from prominent politicians, celebrities, and others throughout the Paris Olympics. And after winning a gold medal last week to close out the Olympics, she had a message for all of her critics.
“For eight years, this has been my dream, and I’m now the Olympic champion and gold medalist,” Khelif said through an interpreter after her gold-medal bout Friday against Yang Liu of China, according to ESPN.
And Khelif did not hold back as she addressed the online attacks and harassment she had received.
“That also gives my success a special taste because of those attacks. … We are in the Olympics to perform as athletes, and I hope that we will not see any similar attacks in future Olympics,” Khelif said.
Khelif and her attorney have decided to file a complaint with the Paris prosecutor’s office as a result of the criticism she has received.
[ESPN]
