Algerian boxer Imane Khelif has clinched the gold medal in the women’s 66kg category at the Paris 2024 Olympics, defeating China’s Yang Liu in a unanimous 5-0 decision. This historic victory marks Algeria’s first Olympic gold in women’s boxing and comes as a powerful response to the controversy surrounding Khelif’s gender eligibility.Khelif’s path to Olympic glory has been fraught with challenges. In 2023, she was disqualified from the World Championships by the International Boxing Association (IBA) due to a failed gender test. However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) defended Khelif’s right to compete, deeming the IBA’s DNA tests ‘illegitimate and unreliable’. IOC President Thomas Bach had previously accused the IBA of lacking evidence in the cases of boxers who failed gender tests.Following her victory, Khelif addressed the controversy head-on, stating, ‘I am a woman, just like any other woman. I was born a woman and have lived as a woman, but success has enemies, and they cannot digest my success’. She added, ‘For eight years, this has been my dream, and I’m now the Olympic champion and gold medalist. That also gives my success a special taste because of those attacks’.Khelif’s triumph has been met with widespread celebration in Algeria, with scenes of joy erupting in the streets of Algiers. Her victory marks Algeria’s second gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, following Kaylia Nemour’s success in gymnastics.The controversy surrounding Khelif’s eligibility has reignited global debates on gender identity in sports and the fairness of current regulations. As the dust settles on these Olympic Games, Khelif’s story stands as a testament to perseverance in the face of adversity, while also highlighting the complex issues surrounding gender and competition in elite sports.
Key points
- Imane Khelif won gold in women’s 66kg boxing at Paris 2024 Olympics, defeating China’s Yang Liu.
- Khelif’s victory comes amid controversy over her gender eligibility, previously disqualified by IBA but defended by IOC.
- Khelif’s win marks Algeria’s first Olympic gold in women’s boxing and second gold at Paris 2024.
- The controversy has sparked global debates on gender identity in sports and fairness of current regulations.
Contradictions👾While most sources report Khelif winning in the 66kg category, one source mentions her competing in the welterweight division.
This discrepancy might be due to different classification systems or reporting errors.
