Imane Khelif, the Algerian boxer, has made headlines at the Paris 2024 Olympics for securing gold in the women’s 66 kg boxing division. Her victory over China’s Yang Liu was achieved with a unanimous decision from all five judges, with Khelif not losing a single round throughout the final. This win not only earned Khelif her first Olympic gold but also marked Algeria’s second Olympic boxing gold, joining Hocine Soltani (1996) in that distinction.
Khelif’s success is particularly notable given the controversies surrounding her participation. She faced significant scrutiny and online abuse related to her gender, a situation that intensified following her disqualification from the 2023 World Championships by the International Boxing Association (IBA), which was later deemed flawed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Despite these challenges, Khelif’s dominance in the ring and her gold medal serve as a powerful response to her critics.
The IOC has supported Khelif, condemning the attacks against her as “hate speech.” Khelif herself described her gold medal as the “best response” to the negativity she faced. Her impressive performances included a brief but notable 46-second bout against Angela Carini of Italy, who later apologized for her refusal to shake hands.
Khelif’s triumph underscores her remarkable resilience and has solidified her status as a national hero in Algeria.