Imane Khelif Sends Loud & Clear Message To Her Haters As She Finally Addresses All The Abuse She’s Received At Paris Olympics
Imane Khelif
Algeria’s Imane Khelif secured her spot in the women’s boxing final at the 2024 Olympic Games with a win over Thailand’s Janjaem Suwannapheng before opening up on all the abuse she’s received since that controversial match vs. Italian Angela Carini.
The 25-year-old cut an emotional figure as she broke down in tears after beating Hungary’s Anna Luca Hamori in Saturday’s quarter-final but was jumping for joy following her semi-final triumph on Tuesday.
She would also discuss the online bullying she’s had to deal with amid the claims of her being transgender while speaking to SNTV in an interview conducted in Arabic.
“God willing, this crisis will culminate in a gold medal, and that would be the best response,” she said (H/T the Associated Press). “I send a message to all the people of the world to uphold the Olympic principles and the Olympic Charter, to refrain from bullying all athletes, because this has effects, massive effects.”
Imane Khelif Is Grateful To The IOC For Having Her Back
Imane Khelif, who admitted her parents are worried about her, added that bullying “can destroy people, it can kill people’s thoughts, spirit and mind. It can divide people. And because of that, I ask them to refrain from bullying.”
She thanked the International Olympic Committee for having her back and doing her “justice” as well.
IOC president Thomas Bach has indeed spoken out in the Algerian’s defense, insisting she was eligible to fight as a woman in the Olympics because she was born and raised female and has competed as a woman in the past. He pointed out that she is also registered as a woman on her passport.
Khelif will face China’s Yang Lui in the welterweight women’s final this Friday. Given the controversy still surrounding the Algerian, the match should generate a lot of buzz.
WWE Star Sami Zayn Has Some Choice Words For Algerian Boxer Imane Khelif As Gender Controversy Continues To Rock The Olympics
Imane Khelif and Sami Zayn
Olympic boxer Imane Khelif has attracted international attention following accusations of being transgender.
The Algerian dominated headlines after Italian Angela Carini abandoned a match against her after just 46 seconds last week, sparking rife controversy.
The debate over whether the 25-year-old is male or female continues to rage. But, while she has had many people lash out, she’s received plenty of support too, with some coming from WWE star Sami Zayn after she won an important match on Tuesday.
“Big ups to the Muslim sister Imane Khelif who advanced in the Olympics today to box for the gold medal after facing a swarm of the most idiotic, bigoted comments I’ve ever seen an Olympic athlete face,” the former WWE Intercontinental Champion wrote on X/Twitter. “Inshallah she wins the big one & the b**cha**es online get the help they need.”
Imane Khelif Is One Win Away From Gold
Khelif has also received support from the president of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, following a statement from the governing body last week.
“We have two boxers who were born as women, who have been raised as women, who have a passport as a woman, and who have competed for many years as women,” he said, per NBC News.
Bach’s comments starkly contrast those of World Boxing Organization vice president Istan Kovacs, who has claimed tests determined Imane Khelif was a man as far back as 2022.
Despite the vitriol, Khelif has punched her way to the women’s boxing finals, beating Thailand boxer Janjaem Suwannapheng in Tuesday’s semis.
She is also guaranteed a medal no matter what the outcome is and will be returning home with either gold or silver.
