Algerian boxer Imane Khelif became Olympic champion in the -66 kg category on Friday in a highly charged Roland-Garros stadium, totally committed to her cause, thanks to her victory in the final against China’s Yang Liu, the reigning world champion.
The 25-year-old boxer, who won unanimously on points, brings Algeria its second title of the Paris Olympics after Kaylia Nemour’s gold in gymnastics.
Three years after her presence at the Tokyo Games, where her participation had not caused any controversy, she found herself in spite of herself at the centre of a controversy on gender led by conservative circles against the backdrop of a dispute between the IOC and the International Boxing Federation.
As she entered the famous Philippe-Chatrier court, which is used to tennis matches, Khelif was cheered with a resounding din, while her opponent Yang Liu was booed by part of the crowd.
Shouts of “Imane, Imane” punctuated the three rounds of the fight, during which the Algerian appeared more relaxed and sharp.
When the judges’ verdict was announced, the boxer jumped for joy before saluting her opponent and being carried in triumph by her trainer into a jubilant arena.
During the Olympics, the young woman was the target of a disinformation campaign and the victim of attacks on her gender, but she also became a heroine for her country’s supporters.
At the Tokyo Games in 2021, she reached the quarter-finals where she was beaten by the Irish Kellie Harlington, future Olympic champion.
For his coach Mohamed Chaoua, “all these controversies give him the strength to move forward.”
“I am focused on my competition and the rest is not important,” the boxer told beIN Sports after her semi-final.