PARIS, Francis — Algerian boxer Imane Khelif claimed Olympic gold in women’s welterweight boxing on Friday, August 9, 2024, a victory she described as having a “special taste” after enduring controversy and attacks on her gender eligibility.
Khelif, 25, won by unanimous decision over Chinese world champion Yang Liu in a five-round bout, capping a remarkable comeback just a year after being disqualified from the World Championships.
“I am fully qualified to take part in this competition,” Khelif declared following her victory. “I am a woman like any other woman. I was born a woman. I have lived as a woman. I competed as a woman—there is no doubt about that.”
Khelif’s journey to Olympic gold has been marred by accusations and scrutiny surrounding her gender, which led to her disqualification from the World Championships last year.
Despite the controversy, Khelif was cleared to compete in Paris, where she silenced her critics with a dominant performance.
“I have been a victim of bullying,” Khelif said, reflecting on the challenges she faced leading up to the Olympics. “The International Boxing Association (IBA) hates me, and I really don’t know why.”
The support from her fellow Algerians was palpable as she entered the arena, with fans waving the green, white, and red flags of Algeria and roaring their encouragement.
Khelif, fueled by the crowd’s energy, controlled the fight from start to finish, confidently dancing at the final bell, knowing that victory was within her grasp.
In a show of sportsmanship, Yang Liu raised Khelif’s arm after the result was announced, a stark contrast to the tension that followed Khelif’s opening fight against Italy’s Angela Carini.
After her gold was secured, Khelif was lifted onto the shoulders of her coach and paraded around the arena, basking in the adoration of the crowd.
The moment was especially poignant given the backdrop of last year’s gender eligibility controversy.
Khelif was joined by fellow competitors, including bronze medallists Chen Nien-chin of Chinese Taipei and Thailand’s Janjaem Suwannapheng, who applauded her as Algeria’s national anthem played during the medal ceremony.
Khelif’s victory is not only a personal triumph but also a powerful statement amid the ongoing debate over gender eligibility in sports.
Her success follows that of Lin Yu-ting, another boxer who faced similar challenges last year.
Lin, who was also banned under the same ruling, will compete in the featherweight final on Saturday against Poland’s Julia Szeremeta.
As Khelif stood on the podium, tears in her eyes, she knew she had done more than win a gold medal; she had proven her detractors wrong and inspired a nation.
The support and applause she received from her peers and the audience were a testament to her resilience and determination to compete at the highest level, regardless of the obstacles in her path.
