Algerian boxer Imane Khelif is set to enter the ring at the Paris Olympics once again on Saturday amidst intense scrutiny and online abuse due to misconceptions about her gender. This has sparked a broader conversation about identity in sports.
Khelif will face off against Anna Luca Hamori of Hungary in the quarterfinals of the women’s 66-kilogram category. A win for Khelif would mark the seventh Olympic boxing medal for Algeria, the first since 2000 and the nation’s inaugural medal in women’s boxing.
In her first match, Khelif emerged victorious when her opponent, Angela Carini of Italy, tearfully quit the fight after just 46 seconds. This unusual ending further fueled the ongoing debate surrounding gender identity in sports, with false claims circulating about Khelif’s gender.
Amidst a Paris Games that promotes inclusion and has faced criticism over certain performances, LGBTQ+ groups have warned about the dangers of hateful comments towards their community and female athletes.
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IOC President Thomas Bach has come to the defense of Khelif and Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan. Both boxers were disqualified by the International Boxing Association during last year’s world championships based on what the association claimed were failed eligibility tests for women’s competition.
The IBA, which has a history of conflicts with the IOC, has not provided any transparency in its dealings, especially in recent years. Bach emphasized that Khelif and Lin are unequivocally women, having competed as such for many years.
Khelif, fighting for an Olympic medal for the second time, is aiming for at least a bronze after not medaling in the Tokyo Games. Lin, also a two-time Olympian, could secure her first medal on Sunday if she defeats Svetlana Staneva of Bulgaria.
Despite the controversy, both Khelif and Lin have received overwhelming support from spectators at the North Paris Arena.
The reduced number of boxers at the Paris Olympics, with the fewest since 1956, means many fighters have the opportunity to clinch a medal with just two victories. Gender parity has been achieved at the Olympics for the first time in Paris, with equal representation for men and women in boxing.
