Imane Khelif, an Algerian boxer, triumphed in the Paris Olympics on Friday, defeating a significant gender controversy in front of a thunderous Roland Garros audience that cheered her on.
In the women's 66kg final, Khelif defeated China's Yang Liu by unanimous points decision. After the bout, she was carried around the arena on the shoulders of her teammates.
Saturday's women's 57kg final features a bout between Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting and Khelif, who were both disqualified from last year's world championships for failing gender eligibility tests.
"I'm overjoyed. I've had this dream for eight years, and now I'm an Olympic champion with a gold medal," Khelif, 25, remarked. "I've been working for eight years, without a break, and I'm exhausted." I'm an Olympic champion now."
In the women's 66kg final, Khelif defeated China's Yang Liu by unanimous points decision. After the bout, she was carried around the arena on the shoulders of her teammates.
Saturday's women's 57kg final features a bout between Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting and Khelif, who were both disqualified from last year's world championships for failing gender eligibility tests.
"I'm overjoyed. I've had this dream for eight years, and now I'm an Olympic champion with a gold medal," Khelif, 25, remarked. "I've been working for eight years, without a break, and I'm exhausted." I'm an Olympic champion now."
Khelif is the first female athlete from Algeria to win a gold medal in boxing at the Olympics, and she is the first boxer from Algeria to earn an Olympic gold since Hocine Soltani in the 1996 Games in Atlanta.
Khelif and Lin Yu-ting from Taiwan were engulfed in a tempest that has dominated news and sparked contentious discussions on social media.
The International Boxing Association (IBA) declared both of them ineligible due to a sex chromosomal test and disqualified them from the 2023 World Championships.
They are participating in the Olympics as a result of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) taking over the boxing competition in Paris in 2023 and depriving the IBA of its authority as the sport's regulatory organization.
The IOC is using the same boxing eligibility rules from the Olympics in 2016 and 2021 for these Games, which do not include gender testing.
The 15,000-seat Court Philippe Chatrier, which is often home to Grand Slam tennis, was packed with Algerian supporters who came to see one of the most contentious sportsmen at the Games.
Khelif, who stands 1.79 meters (5 feet 9 inches) tall, had an advantage in strength and height over her three opponents, whom she easily defeated en route to the final.
Khelif and Lin Yu-ting from Taiwan were engulfed in a tempest that has dominated news and sparked contentious discussions on social media.
The International Boxing Association (IBA) declared both of them ineligible due to a sex chromosomal test and disqualified them from the 2023 World Championships.
They are participating in the Olympics as a result of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) taking over the boxing competition in Paris in 2023 and depriving the IBA of its authority as the sport's regulatory organization.
The IOC is using the same boxing eligibility rules from the Olympics in 2016 and 2021 for these Games, which do not include gender testing.
The 15,000-seat Court Philippe Chatrier, which is often home to Grand Slam tennis, was packed with Algerian supporters who came to see one of the most contentious sportsmen at the Games.
Khelif, who stands 1.79 meters (5 feet 9 inches) tall, had an advantage in strength and height over her three opponents, whom she easily defeated en route to the final.
Cheers went up loud as Khelif entered the arena and shadow-boxed her way into the ring amid cries of "Imane, Imane."
From the middle of the ring, Khelif controlled the most of the opening round and gave Yang a barrage of blows two-thirds of the way through to grab the early lead.
Similar to the first, Khelif's blows seemed to have more snap, power, and menace as the second round got underway. Going into the third and final round, the Algerian was leading according to every judge's scorecard; all she had to do to win was stay out of major difficulty.
Win has "unique taste" following dispute
From the middle of the ring, Khelif controlled the most of the opening round and gave Yang a barrage of blows two-thirds of the way through to grab the early lead.
Similar to the first, Khelif's blows seemed to have more snap, power, and menace as the second round got underway. Going into the third and final round, the Algerian was leading according to every judge's scorecard; all she had to do to win was stay out of major difficulty.
At the bell, the two gave each other an embrace. Khelif then performed a jig in the middle of the ring and pounded her breast, signaling her triumph.
"I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who has shown support for me," Khelif said following her nation's second gold medal in Paris.
"Everyone at my base and everyone from Algeria." I'd like to thank my coach and the entire team. I sincerely appreciate it.
"I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who has shown support for me," Khelif said following her nation's second gold medal in Paris.
"Everyone at my base and everyone from Algeria." I'd like to thank my coach and the entire team. I sincerely appreciate it.
Win has "unique taste" following dispute
Victory at the Paris Olympics has “a special taste”, said Khelif after winning the boxing gold.
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