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Imane Khelif
Algerian boxer Imane Khelif says she plans to win a second Olympic gold medal when the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Games come around — and she’s not worried about what critics have to say about her gender.
Khelif, the 25-year-old women’s welterweight champion at the 2024 Paris Olympics, opened up in an interview with the British news channel ITV on Wednesday, March 19 about her plans for defending her gold medal and how she managed a barrage of hateful social media posts from the likes of President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, who questioned whether she was a woman.
“When I saw that even heads of state, famous figures, and former athletes were speaking about me without having verified facts, it shocked me,” Khelif told ITV.
“They were speaking just for the sake of talking, without any reliable or documented information,” the Olympic gold medalist said. “I also noticed on social media that people were discussing the issue without any trustworthy sources. That was what affected me the most in the beginning — why was I, Imane Khelif, the target of such a campaign?’’
Related: Imane Khelif’s Father Says ‘Having Such a Daughter Is an Honor’ amid Olympic Controversy
Aytac Unal/Anadolu via Getty
Imane Khelif (blue) of Algeria competes against Janjaem Suwannapheng (red) of Thailand in the women’s 66kg semi-final boxing match during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Roland-Garros Stadium, in Paris, France on August 6, 2024.
Khelif, who was born female, continued to be subjected to criticism based on misinformation being spread on social media claiming she was either male or transgender. Meanwhile, Khelif racked up wins at the Olympics, despite the online bullying — some of which came from the world’s most powerful men.
“It affected me mentally, as well as my family,” Khelif told ITV. “Even my mother was deeply affected — she was going to the hospital almost every day. My relatives were also impacted, and the entire Algerian people felt the weight of the situation. This went beyond just a sporting issue or a game; it escalated into a major media campaign that could have had a severe negative effect on me, my family, and my psychological well-being.”
Khelif said she “felt discouraged” throughout the 2024 Olympics because of the bullying she received on social media, but said she “remained aware of what was happening.”
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Imane Khelif
“Even during the Paris Olympics, I had a team of specialist doctors who provided me with support and assistance,” she told ITV. “Without their support, I might have fallen into a spiral of depression.’’
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The Algerian boxer, who made her Olympic debut at the 2020 Tokyo Games, said she plans to defend her gold medal at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. And, Khelif told ITV, she isn’t scared of what Trump might say about her amid his mission to ban transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports and the misinformation he’s spewed over her gender.
“I will give you a straightforward answer: the U.S. president issued a decision related to transgender policies in America. I am not transgender. This does not concern me, and it does not intimidate me. That is my response,” Khelif said. “Of course, I defend with everything I have this gold medal… I continue my dream, my everything.”
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