Boxer Imane Khelif wins gold to cap an Olympics marked by scrutiny over her sex

PARIS (AP) — Algerian boxer Imane Khelif has won a gold medal Friday at the Paris Olympics, emerging a champion from a tumultuous run at the Games where she endured intense scrutiny in the ring and online abuse from around the world over misconceptions about her womanhood. Khelif beat Yang Liu of China 5:0 in the final of the women’s welterweight division, wrapping up the best series of fights of her boxing career with a victory at Roland Garros, where crowds chanted her name, waved Algerian flags and roared every time she landed a punch. After her unanimous win, Khelif jumped into her coaches’ arms, one of them putting her on his shoulders and carrying her in a victory lap as she pumped her fists and grabbed an Algerian flag from the crowd. “For eight years, this has been my dream, and I’m now the Olympic champion and gold medalist,” Khelif said through an interpreter. Algeria’s Imane Khelif celebrates after defeating Thailand’s Janjaem Suwannapheng in their women’s 66 kg semifinal boxing match on Aug. 6 in Paris. (AP Photo/John Locher) It stems from the Russian-dominated International Boxing Association’s decision to disqualify Khelif and fellow two-time Olympian Li Yu-ting of Taiwan from last year’s world championships, claiming both failed an eligibility test for women’s competition that IBA officials have declined to answer basic questions about. “I’m fully qualified to take part in this competition,” Khelif said Friday. Algeria’s Imane Khelif, right, fights China’s Yang Liu in their women’s 66 kg final boxing match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/John Locher) Algeria’s Imane Khelif gestures after defeating China’s Yang Liu to win gold in their women’s 66 kg final boxing match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/John Locher) Algeria’s Imane Khelif prepares to fight China’s Yang Liu in their women’s 66 kg final boxing match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) The IOC has repeatedly reaffirmed the two boxers’ right to compete in Paris, with President Thomas Bach personally defending Khelif and Lin while calling the criticism “hate speech.” Khelif noted that she has boxed in IBA competitions since 2018 but now “they hate me, and I don’t know why.” “I sent them a single message with this gold medal, and that is that my dignity and honor are above all else,” she said. OLYMPIC PHOTOS: See AP’s top photos from the 2024 Paris games The IBA’s reputation hasn’t stopped the international outcry tied to misconceptions around the fighters, which has been amplified by Russian disinformation networks. She is only the nation’s second boxing gold medalist, joining Hocine Soltani (1996) while claiming the seventh gold medal in Algeria’s Olympic history. While Khelif drew enthusiastic, flag-draped fans in Paris, she also has become a hero in her North African country, where many have seen the world’s dissection of Khelif as criticism of their nation. Gold medalist Algeria’s Imane Khelif kisses her medal for the women’s 66 kg final boxing match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/John Locher) Gold medalist Algeria’s Imane Khelif, from left, Silver medalist China’s Yang Liu, and bronze medalists Thailand’s Janjaem Suwannapheng and Taiwan’s Chen Nien-chin pose during a medals ceremony for the women’s 66 kg final boxing match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/John Locher) Algeria’s Imane Khelif reacts after defeating China’s Yang Liu in their women’s 66 kg final boxing match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) Dubbed “The Night of Destiny” in local newspapers, Khelif’s fight was projected on screens set up in public squares throughout Algiers and other cities. Algeria’s Imane Khelif celebrates after defeating China’s Yang Liu in their women’s 66 kg final boxing match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/John Locher) Algeria’s Imane Khelif, right, fights China’s Yang Liu in their women’s 66 kg final boxing match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) Algeria’s Imane Khelif prepares to fight China’s Yang Liu in their women’s 66 kg final boxing match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Paris, France. – This Summarize was created by Neural News AI (V1). Source: https://apnews.com/a177d6795d27dbc02db1313de0266753