Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif returned to Algeria on Monday, receiving a warm welcome as her fellow Algerians stood by her in response to international scrutiny and misconceptions about her gender.
Khelif, who won gold in women’s welterweight boxing at the 2024 Paris Olympics, arrived in Algiers along with other Olympic medalists, including gymnast Kaylia Nemour and runner Djamel Sedjati. They were greeted by Minister of Youth and Sports Abderrahmane Hammad and are expected to meet President Abdelmadjid Tebboune later in the week, according to the nation’s public press service, APS.
Reflecting on her gold medal win, Khelif said, “It’s a dream I’ve had for eight years. We did our best to represent Algeria.”
Khelif became a central figure at the Paris Olympics after Italian boxer Angela Carini withdrew from their match just 46 seconds in, expressing shock at the power of Khelif’s punches. Carini’s reaction sparked widespread scrutiny of Khelif, with some questioning her eligibility or falsely claiming she was a man.
Algerians strongly defended Khelif against these unfounded speculations, seeing them as rooted in racism. They showed their support both in Paris and across Algeria, where the gold medal fight was broadcast in public squares.
Read More: Imane Khelif Advances to Women’s Boxing Final Amid Gender Controversy
Djamel Sedjati, who won bronze in the men’s 800 meters, expressed confidence that the successes of Nemour and Khelif would inspire and uplift women’s sports in Algeria.
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