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In a historic and emotionally charged night at Roland-Garros Stadium, Algerian boxer Imane Khelif secured her place in Olympic history by winning the gold medal in the women’s welterweight division. Her victory came after a turbulent journey marked by a controversial “gender eligibility” dispute, which had cast a shadow over her participation in the Games.
Khelif, 25, delivered a stunning performance in the finals, defeating China’s Yang Liu to claim the top spot on the podium. The win was the culmination of eight years of relentless hard work and dedication.
"I’m very happy. For eight years, this has been my dream and I’m now the Olympic champion and gold medallist," Khelif expressed with pride. "I’ve worked for eight years, no sleep, eight years tired. Now I’m Olympic champion."
Throughout the Games, Khelif and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-Ting were embroiled in a controversy fueled by inaccurate media speculation and social media abuse regarding their gender. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) firmly supported both athletes, confirming that they had met all eligibility criteria. The controversy was ignited by the International Boxing Association (IBA), an organization not recognized by the IOC, which had previously stripped Khelif and Lin of their 2023 World Championship medals based on disputed gender tests. Despite the uproar, Khelif remained focused, winning all four of her Olympic bouts decisively.
Khelif’s Olympic journey was marked by resilience and skill. She started strong, with Italy’s Angela Carini withdrawing just 46 seconds into their round of 16 match. Khelif then secured unanimous decision victories in both the quarterfinals against Hungary’s Anna Luca Hamori and the semifinals against Thailand’s Janjaem Suwannapheng, before her final triumph against Yang Liu.
As the dust settles on this controversial chapter, Khelif stands tall as a symbol of determination and excellence, her gold medal serving as a testament to her incredible journey.
In my personal and professional opinion I think this athlete had an unfair advantage, being born with XY chromosomes.