In front of 15,000 spectators

Boxer Khelif celebrates emotional gold triumph

Imane Khelif(Bild: AFP or licensors)

Algerian boxer Imane Khelif withstood the pressure caused by a heated gender debate to win gold in the Olympic final. 

The 25-year-old beat Chinese world champion Yang Liu unanimously on points in the welterweight (up to 66 kg) on Friday to become Olympic champion.

(Bild: Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

"God willing, this crisis will culminate in a gold medal, that would be the best answer," Khelif said recently. In the final fight on the Court Philippe Chatrier in the Stade Roland Garros, she was also cheered on frenetically in front of around 15,000 spectators. After the verdict was announced, Khelif once again performed her jubilant dance around her own axis in the middle of the ring and was then carried on the shoulders of an Algerian supporter to thunderous cheers from the fans.

(Bild: Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Fierce controversy
Khelif and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-Ting, who will fight for gold in the featherweight division against Poland's Julia Szeremeta on Saturday, were the subject of fierce controversy over the right to compete in Paris. Both boxers had been excluded from last year's World Championships following tests about which the International Boxing Association (IBA), which is no longer recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), does not provide any further details. According to the IBA, both had not fulfilled the required participation criteria and had "competitive advantages compared to other female participants".

(Bild: Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

"Arbitrary decision"
The IOC called this an "arbitrary decision without due process" and allowed Lin and Khelif to compete in Paris. "There was never any doubt that they were women," IOC President Thomas Bach reiterated several times.