Defying online abuse, Algeria's Imane Khelif wins medal at Olympics
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Khelif's Olympic journey has created a polarizing debate about gender identity and sports after many accused her of being a male.
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Algeria's Imane Khelif celebrates after defeating Hungary's Anna Hamori in their women's 66kg quarterfinal boxing match at the 2024 Summer Olympics on August 3, 2024. (AP)
Algerian Imane Khelif won a medal at the Paris Olympics after days of harsh criticism and online abuse as assumptions about her gender erupted into a bigger dispute over identity in sports.
Khelif beat Anna Luca Hamori of Hungary 5:0 in the quarterfinals of the women's 66-kilogram category, securing at least a bronze medal following a second victory in her difficult Olympic journey.
Khelif faced outrage after the International Boxing Association, which has been banned from the Olympics since 2019, said she failed an undefined eligibility test to compete last year due to excessive testosterone levels.
She won her first match at the Paris Games on Thursday when Italy's Angela Carini forfeited 46 seconds into the game.
Her journey has created a polarizing debate about gender identity and sports, prompting remarks from former US president Donald Trump, author J.K. Rowling, and others who incorrectly labeled her a male.
Hungary's boxing organization announced Friday that it would dispute the match against the International Olympic Committee (IOC) but would still allow the fight.
After the battle, Hungarian IOC member Balazs Furjes stated, alongside Hamori, that it was "never an option... not to fight."
Furjes delivered an ambiguous statement in which he commended both Hamori and the IOC while signaling Hungary was unhappy.
Earlier on Saturday, IOC President Thomas Bach defended Khelif and Taiwanese fighter Lin Yu-ting.
Khelif and Lin were banned by the previous body of Olympic boxing, the IBA, citing failed eligibility tests.
The IBA has refused to provide any clarification regarding the tests.
Khelif, who missed out on a medal at the Tokyo Games three years ago, will compete with Thailand's Janjaem Suwannapheng in the 66-kg semi-finals on Tuesday at Roland Garros.
