Joe McConnell
Imane Khelif had the final say after her gold medal victory at Roland Garros on Friday.
The Algerian has been subjected to abuse after her presence at the Olympic Games became the subject of bitter disputes.
However, she soundly defeated China’s Yang Liu by unanimous decision to win the 66kg final at Paris 2024.
The Algerian welterweight had been accused by the IBA, the boxing body expelled from the Olympic movement, of not being able to compete in the women’s category.
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Vscek’ Geraint Hughes looks at Imane Khelif’s gold medal win in boxing, defeating China’s Yang Liu in the Olympic final
Last year the IBA used an unspecified eligibility test to disqualify Khelif from the world championships, a verdict issued only after Khelif had reached the final.
Despite meeting the IOC criteria, a dispute has erupted over her place at Paris 2024, a controversy that came to a head when she abruptly stopped Italy’s Angela Carini in just 46 seconds.
Yet, at every stage of the tournament, despite all the hype, Khelif entered the arena with pride and left it with pride, securing the results she needed.
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Imane Khelif called for an end to bullying and abuse
It all culminated in spectacular scenes of celebration at Roland Garros on Friday, when Khelif beat China’s Yang Liu to take gold in the 66kg in front of a crowd of supporters numbering thousands.
Having won the biggest prize in amateur boxing, Khelif could close Paris 2024 with one final message.
“As for whether I qualify or not, whether I am a woman or not, I have made many statements to the media: I am fully qualified to participate in this competition,” she told the world media after the gold medal bout.
“I am a woman like all the others.
“I was born a woman, I lived as a woman, I competed as a woman. There is no doubt about it.”
He added: “There are enemies, enemies of success. That’s what I call them.
“These are the enemies of success. And this also gives my success a special flavor because of these attacks.”
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IOC spokesman Mark Adams said Iman Khelif and Lin Yu Ting had been targeted on social media, as he revealed the pair had received death threats
Despite everything, he had not lost sight of his goal.
“First of all, the Olympics are a dream, they are a dream for every athlete,” he said.
“Here in Paris, thank God, the whole world, the Arab world, the Algerians, they all know how hard I have worked.”
He hopes that a lesson can be learned from his extraordinary experience.
“I think the whole world now knows the story of Imane Khelif. I come from a very small village, from a very small family. I was born and raised in poor neighborhoods. But my family has always been proud of me, always supported me in this sport,” she said.
Khelif celebrates his unanimous decision victory and Olympic gold medal
“My message to the whole world is that they should commit to the Olympic principles and they should stop bullying. They should not bully people. This is a message from the Olympics. The Olympic values are extremely important and I hope that people will stop bullying.
“I hope we won’t see similar attacks at future Olympics.
“The attacks I have heard on social media have been extremely serious, senseless and have damaged people’s dignity,” he continued.
“All the women who came to support me today sent me a message, saying that our honor comes before anything else.”
Vscek+ has officially launched and will be integrated into Sky TV, the NOW streaming service and the Vscek app, giving Vscek customers access to over 50% more live sport this year, at no extra cost.
