Algeria’s Imane Khelif has rejected the allegations and abuse she had been subjected to at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Khelif made this known after defeating China’s Yang Liu by unanimous decision over five rounds to win the 66kg women’s boxing final at the Games.
The Algerian welterweight was banned by the International Boxing Association (IBA) and reported to have failed gender eligibility tests.
However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) allowed her to compete in the women’s category.
“I am fully qualified to take part in this competition. I am a woman like any other woman. I was born a woman. I have lived as a woman. I competed as a woman – there is no doubt about that,” said 25-year-old Khelif.
“These are the enemies of success. And that also gives my success a special taste because of these attacks.”
“The attacks I heard on social media were extremely bad, they were meaningless, and they impact the dignity of people,” she continued.
“All the women that came to support me today sent a message, saying that our honour is above everything else.” She concluded amidst massive Algerian supporters.
The gold medal is Algeria’s first in an Olympic boxing event.
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