Imane Khelif is a boxer who represented her country, Algeria, in the Summer Games. She received a huge online backlash after her 2024 Paris Olympic fight with Italian fighter Angela Carini. Khelif won as the result of Angela quitting the match just 46 seconds after it began. She claimed that Imane Khelif is a biological man and that the punches she took from her were the hardest in her entire boxing career. However, the IOC (International Olympic Committee) defended Khelif, confirming that she is a female according to his passport and that she passed all eligibility and medical regulations for the event.
Did You Know?
Imane Khelif originally played football as a child before turning over to boxing.
In her early days as a boxer, she had to travel to neighboring villages for her training sessions. To support her travel fare, she sold scrap metal.
In an interview, she revealed that her father initially didn’t approve of her boxing because he didn’t believe girls participating in sports.
Several public personalities like JK Rowling, Richard Dawkins, and Elon Musk criticized Khelif and the IOC on social media due to the 2024 Paris Olympic boxing match.
