A champion despite all the odds.
This describes the Olympic journey of Algerian boxer Imane Khelif towards victory as she conquered the gold medal in the women’s boxing event, amid challenges faced at the start of her Olympic stint.
In the finals of women’s 66kg division, Khelif faced off with Chinese Yang Liu for a punch to claim the prestigious Olympic medal.
Khelif successfully dominated all three rounds, not letting the Chinese opponent to break through her defense, and ended the match in unanimous decision on her favor.
Upon announcement of the results, the crowd cheered for Khelif’s victory not only as she hailed as the champion of the boxing division, but is also the first woman Algerian to take home an Olympic gold from a boxing event, and the second algerian medalist after Gymnast Kaylia Nemour.
Following her win, she dedicated the medal not only to the country she represented but as a response to “all those who critized her” amid gender row.
Khelif’s Olympic journey and win was made more difficult as she faced gender-related controversy and transphobic remarks and online harassment at the start of her Olympic stint.
It can be recalled that the controversy blew up following Khelif’s 46-second win against Italian boxer Angela Carini, and a “failed” gender test conducted by IBA, from where “a man fighting a woman” remarks rooted and ignited from.
Olympic officials have repeatedly cleared the issue, and defended Khelif against the controversy, saying that the athlete is qualified as she is a woman.
As to her next step, immediately after her win, Khelif announced that she will start to address and take legal action against the online harassment and bullying she faced.