Olympic Gold Medalist Imane Khelif Announces Bold New Career Direction

Boxer Imane Khelif is making headlines again, announcing a bold career shift just months after a controversial debate over her gender eligibility in the Olympics.

After weeks of intense public attention and scrutiny over her gender eligibility, Imane Khelif achieved a significant milestone by winning her first Olympic gold medal. She secured victory against China’s Yang Liu in the women’s 66kg boxing final, earning a unanimous decision back in August.

The 25-year-old Algerian celebrated this monumental achievement at the historic Roland Garros, where she was surrounded by passionate supporters, including many from the Algerian community. The atmosphere was electric, filled with cheers and encouragement.

This win was not just a personal achievement for Khelif; it also made history. She became the first Algerian woman to bring home an Olympic boxing gold, and the first Algerian boxer, male or female, since 1996 to achieve this incredible feat.

Now, Khelif has announced a major transition in her boxing career, setting her sights on new goals.

Boxer Imane Khelif has announced a major career move just months after her Olympics gender row.@imane_khelif_10/Instagram

Reflecting on the controversy surrounding her participation in the 2024 Olympics, she said, as reported by The Guardian: “As for whether I qualify or not, whether I am a woman or not, I have made many statements in the media. I am fully qualified to take part in this competition.”

“I’m a woman like any other woman. I was born a woman, I lived a woman, and I competed as a woman, there’s no doubt about that. [The detractors] are enemies of success, that is what I call them. And that also gives my success a special taste because of these attacks.”

Khelif and fellow boxer Lin Yu-ting, who competed in the 57kg final, both faced intense debates about their gender eligibility.

This scrutiny began when they were barred from the 2023 World Championships due to an International Boxing Association (IBA) test that questioned their eligibility.

Shortly before the Olympics, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had stripped the IBA of its status as the official governing body for boxing, citing ongoing concerns with corruption, governance issues, and financial transparency.

This historic win made Imane Khelif the first Algerian woman to win an Olympic boxing gold and the first Algerian boxer overall since 1996 to achieve this feat.@imane_khelif_10/Instagram

Nevertheless, Khelif’s victory was widely celebrated.

A crowd of 15,000 at Roland Garros chanted “Imane! Imane!” following her match, offering her overwhelming support and admiration.

“My honor is intact now,” Khelif declared proudly, addressing the negativity she faced online. “The attacks that I heard in social media were extremely bad and they are meaningless and they impact the dignity of people and I think that now people’s thinking has changed.”

In her statement, Khelif also shared her disappointment with the IBA, the organization she had been competing under since 2018. She said: “They hate me and I don’t know why. I send them a single message: with this gold medal, my dignity, my honor is above everything else.”

Her final match was a close, skillful encounter between two well-matched opponents, both in terms of height and reach. Gaining confidence after winning the first round unanimously, Khelif held her ground and showed immense focus.

Yang fought with determination, but Khelif’s strategy remained solid as she countered each of Yang’s attempts to gain an advantage. When the final bell rang, the two fighters shared a respectful embrace, and Khelif celebrated by leaping onto her coach’s shoulders, taking a moment to acknowledge the cheering crowd.

The celebrations continued as Khelif, alongside her fellow medalists, returned to the ring for the medal ceremony.

Imane Khelif has announced a major career change at a press conference.@imane_khelif_10/Instagram

The Algerian national anthem filled the air as supporters proudly waved flags and cheered her on.

Having achieved Olympic glory in Paris, Khelif is now preparing to enter the professional boxing arena, setting a new path in her career.

Khelif’s path to gold this summer wasn’t without challenges. Her victory over Angela Carini sparked additional scrutiny when Carini withdrew within just 46 seconds after being hit by a single punch from Khelif.

Despite these challenges and the public debates surrounding her career, Khelif stayed focused and resilient. She ultimately clinched the gold and has now revealed her intention to step into professional boxing.

During a press conference held on October 20, Khelif also announced an exciting new development: a documentary about her life and career is in the works.

“I will soon enter the world of professional boxing,” Khelif shared, as noted by The Independent.

“I have many offers. Currently, I have not decided where I will enter professional boxing. But very soon, I will take this step. We, as Algerians, would like to see our level in the field of professionalism.”

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