Khelif has a medal

“Male” boxer wins – boos for her opponent

Imane Khelif (right) came out on top against Anna Luca Hamori.(Bild: AFP/MOHD RASFAN)

The fuss surrounding her hasn't rattled her: the "male" boxer Imane Khelif is unstoppable at the Olympic Games. On Saturday, the Algerian won her quarter-final fight against Anna Luca Hamori from Hungary, who was booed by the crowd, with loud support from the stands. 

Several hundred Algerian fans made a lot of noise. Khelif, who had been banned from the 2023 World Championships due to elevated testosterone levels but had been given permission to compete in Paris, was cheered on loudly. There were whistles for Hamori and the Hungarian was repeatedly booed.

Imane Khelif (left) is in the semi-finals.(Bild: AFP or licensors)

Both boxers gave each other nothing. "If she or he is a man, it will be a bigger victory for me if I win," Hamori had trumpeted before the fight.

A medal for sure
In the end, however, all five judges saw Khelif in front - to the delight of the Algerian fans. The athlete is now through to the semi-finals and has already secured a medal.

Imane Khelif is jubilant(Bild: AFP/MOHD RASFAN)

Handshake with opponent
Unlike her opening victory by technical knockout after just 46 seconds against Italy's Angela Carini, this time she shook hands with her opponent after the decision was announced.

Imane Khelif (l.) and Anna Luca Hamori after the fight(Bild: AP/John Locher)

Khelif hit the ring floor with all her might at the end of the fight, saluted and then fought back tears.

Khelif's admission to the Olympics had recently caused a lot of excitement. Is it fair for a woman who has been diagnosed with the Y chromosome to fight against "real" women? No, say Austrian insiders largely in unison - see:

Plain talk from IOC boss
Thomas Bach certainly can't understand the uproar. "She was born as a woman, grew up as a woman, has a passport as a woman and has competed as a woman," said the IOC President plainly.