Picture Credit: X
Algerian boxer Imane Khelif on Friday night secured a historic gold medal win at the ongoing Paris Olympics 2024. The Algerian boxer, who was marred with controversies around gender row, defeated China’s Yang Liu in the women’s welterweight final. Moreover, with this win, the 25-year became the first Algerian woman to win an Olympic boxing gold medal.
Soon after her victory, I mane clarified that she is a woman. Speaking at her post-fight press conference, Imane Khelif revealed, “I am a woman like any woman.” She further went on to address that she was born a woman and has lived all her life as a woman. “I was born a woman and I have lived as a woman, but there are enemies to success who can’t digest my success. That also gives my success a special taste,” she quoted hitting out at the intense scrutiny.
It is to be noted that controversy around Khelif began at the 2023 World Championships by the International Boxing Association (IBA) after failing a sex chromosome test. Despite this, the Algerian was cleared to compete at the Paris Olympics, after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) dismissed IBA’s findings as “arbitrary and illegitimate.”
The 25-year-old, however defeated her Chinese opponent in a unanimous decision at the Roland Garros, was cheered by her supporters who chanted “allez Imane” and “1,2,3 Algerie!”. She even took to social media to express her joy with her caption reading, “From dreams to reality, the journey is gold. Proud to stand at the top for my country and the one who believed. The fight never stops, only gets stronger. - Imane Khelif.”
Imane Khelif’s coach lifts her to celebrate historic win
However, the celebrations would not have ended any sooner as one of the members from her corner lifted her on his shoulders. After the celebrations in the ring, Khelif’s support staff lifted her on the shoulder as they did a victory lap with the Algerian flag over her head.
Watch Imane Khelif’s celebration:
Khelif’s gold was celebrated at her home in Algeria with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune also calling her post her win. He even added that Imane made all Algerians proud. “We are all proud of you, Imane, as an Olympic champion. Your victory today belongs to Algeria, and your gold is Algeria’s gold.”
