Updated Aug 9, 2024 - World

Algeria's Imane Khelif wins gold medal despite gender controversy

Ina Fried

Liu Yang of Team China looks on as Match Referee Jakov Peterson raises the hand of Imane Khelif of Team Algeria to announce the winner of the Boxing Women's 66kg Final match at the Paris Olympics — China's Liu Yang looks on as match referee Jakov Peterson raises the hand of Algeria's Imane Khelif, who won the Boxing Women's 66kg Final match on Aug. 9, 2024. Photo: Maja Hitij/Getty Images

Algerian boxer Imane Khelif defeated China's Yang Liu in a unanimous decision to win the gold medal in women's welterweight boxing (under 66kg) at the Paris Olympics.

Why it matters: Khelif has found herself at the center of gender controversy that has included a barrage of online hate fueled by mis- and disinformation.

The judges unanimously scored the first two rounds 10-9 in favor of Khelif, putting pressure on the Chinese boxer headed into the final of the three rounds.
Khelif again had the loud backing of an extremely supportive pro-Algerian crowd at a packed Roland-Garros Stadium.

Catch-up quick: Khelif reached the gold medal match by defeating Thailand's Janjaem Suwannapheng in Tuesdays semifinals as well as Hungary's Anna Luca Hamori in the quarterfinals.

Khelif, who is not transgender, is one of two boxers competing in Paris who was previously banned from competition by the International Boxing Association — a boxing governing body that the International Olympic Committee no longer recognizes.
The IBA asserted Khelif and Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting (who has also reached the gold medal match in her weight class) failed an unspecified gender test in 2023 and banned both boxers from competing.

Yes, but: The International Olympic Committee, which is running the boxing tournament in Paris, has maintained that Khelif and Lin Yu-ting, who have long competed in women's boxing, meet all eligibility requirements.

Between the lines: Khelif received a torrent of online attacks after an early match in which Italian boxer Angela Carini stopped fighting after 46 seconds.

The attacks came from a host of prominent Republicans as well as celebrities like J.K. Rowling and Elon Musk.

Former President Trump and others falsely suggested that Khelif was transgender and had previously competed in the male category. Khelif was assigned female at birth and has only ever competed in female boxing, including at a previous Olympics.

What she's saying: Asked by Axios' Ina Fried what she wishes people would take away from what she went through, Khelif said through a translator that she would hope for an end to bullying and that no future athlete would again have to endure what she did.

"The attacks I heard on social media were extremely bad," she added later in the press conference. "They impact the dignity of people."

Editor's note: This story has been updated with a statement from Khelif.

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Algeria's Imane Khelif wins gold medal despite gender controversy

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