Topics: Sport, World News, Olympics, Imane Khelif
Following her sensational victory against Thailand's Janjaem Suwannapheng in the women's 66kg boxing semi-finals at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Algerian athlete Imane Khelif has issued an iconic three-word response to the win.
As well as her three competitors in the ring, the 25-year-old has faced ceaseless criticism after becoming the subject of a controversial gender row which has since been hotly debated across the globe.
Last year, Khelif was disqualified from the World Championships for failing a gender eligibility test.
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At the time, International Boxing Association (IBA) president Umar Kremlev claimed that the unspecified test reportedly showed Khelif to have XY chromosomes.
Since then, however, the boxer has thankfully received the full support of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), after being deemed eligible to compete in Paris.
Khelif sailed through to the quarter finals, where she beat Hungary's Anna Luca Hamori, before securing herself a place in the final last night following a unanimous decision by the judges against Thai opponent Janjaem Suwannapheng.
And ahead of her upcoming gold medal fight against China's Yang Liu, the Algerian has now issued a statement, lifting the lid on her victory.
Asked about her preparation for the vital match, she simply issued three words: "I am focused."
Khelif also went on to describe how much an ultimate triumph would mean for her.
She said: "I am here for a good performance and my dream. I will give everything I have for the final."
The boxer's presence at the Games has sadly triggered colossal backlash - especially after her first opponent, Italy's Angela Carini accused her fight of being so 'unfair' that she was 'forced' to throw in the towel after just 46 seconds.
Carini later claimed she'd 'never been hit so hard'.
The Italian has since apologised to Khelif following their match.
Speaking about the gender-based debate, Khelif previously asked the press and general public to 'refrain from bullying athletes'.
"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," she told SNTV in Arabic.
“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.”
