Imane Khelif won the gold medal at the Paris Olympics on Friday, the Associated Press reported.
The Algerian boxer won the women's welterweight title amid considerable controversy. According to Associated Press. Khelif won the final against China's Yang Liu, 5-0.
BREAKING: Algerian boxer Imane Kherif wins gold medal at the Paris Olympics after facing criticism over gender misconceptions. https://t.co/CNoYsRiRP6
— Associated Press (@AP) August 9, 2024
“For eight years this has been my dream and now I am an Olympic champion, a gold medallist,” Kheriff said through a translator, The Associated Press reported. (Related article: “This isn't fair!”: Olympic women withdraw after 46 seconds in forced fight against men)
PARIS, FRANCE – AUGUST 3, 2024: Imane Kherif of team Algeria celebrates her victory against Anna-Luka Hamori of team Hungary after the women's 66 kg quarterfinal match on day eight of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the North Paris Arena in Paris, France. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
The win came after the International Boxing Association (IBA) controversially disqualified Kheriff and Taiwanese boxer Li Yu-ting from the 2023 world championships for “failing to meet the eligibility criteria to take part in women's bouts,” a statement from the boxing association said. IndianaThe case has sparked debate about gender norms in sports governance.
In Kherif's previous bout at the 2024 Olympics, Italian boxer Angela Carini, Kherif's opponent, reportedly withdrew 46 seconds into the bout, declaring “This is not fair!” Following this incident, many, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, expressed concern about Kherif's participation in women's boxing. Tweeted A video of her comments to a reporter about the incident.
