Featured Image Credit: Steph Chambers/Aytac Unal/Anadolu via Getty Images
Topics: Imane Khelif, Olympics, Sport, News
Kya Buller
Topics: Imane Khelif, Olympics, Sport, News
Algerian boxer Imane Khelif triumphantly won gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics following a highly publicised gender row and is now being praised for a touching moment following her win.
Khelif won gold in the 66kg final on 9 August, beating China's Wu Yu by unanimous decision.
Alongside vying for gold throughout the competition, Khelif was at the centre of a gender debate.
Many people online spread misinformation about Khelif's gender, and suggested she shouldn't have been allowed to compete.
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It began after her opponent - Italy's Angela Carini - bowed out of their match just 46 seconds in, and said she'd never been hit so hard before, and it 'hurt like hell'.
Carini - who has since apologised - then burst into tears and refused to shake Khelif's hand.
After this, despite being born female, Khelif was subject to ruthless questioning over her gender and eligibility to compete.
Her father, Amar, felt compelled to speak out publicly amid the debate.
He told Reuters: "Having such a daughter is an honour because she is a champion, she honoured me and I encourage her and I hope she will get the medal in Paris.
"Imane is a little girl that has loved sport since she was six years old."
Following her win, Khelif had a touching moment at the closing ceremony yesterday (11 August).
Holding her medal up to her face in front of the camera, she grinned widely.
She also later kissed the medal.
One person said: "I might have shouted MY QUEEN! at the telly."
Another added: "Biggest hero of the games."
After her victory, Khelif stated to press: "I am fully qualified to take part in this competition. 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 initially spoke out about the bullying on 4 August.
She told SNTV: “I send a message to all the people of the world to uphold the Olympic principles and the Olympic Charter, to refrain from bullying all athletes, because this has effects, massive effects.
“It can destroy people, it can kill people’s thoughts, spirit and mind. It can divide people. And because of that, I ask them to refrain from bullying.”
She also shared that the treatment had had an effect on her family, too.
She added: “I hope that they weren’t affected deeply.
“They are worried about me. God willing, this crisis will culminate in a gold medal, and that would be the best response.”