Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif received a warm welcome in Algiers on Monday, as Algerians showed strong support following international controversy and misconceptions about her gender.
Khelif, who won gold in women’s welterweight boxing at the Paris 2024 Olympics, returned home with fellow medalists, gymnast Kaylia Nemour and runner Djamel Sedjati.
The athletes were met at the airport by Minister of Youth and Sports, Abderrahmane Hammad, and are set to meet President Abdelmadjid Tebboune later this week.
Khelif expressed her pride in achieving her long-held dream of representing Algeria.
“It’s a dream I had for eight years. We did our best to represent Algeria,” she said.
Her victory gained significant attention after her Italian opponent, Angela Carini, withdrew 46 seconds into their match, leading to speculations about Khelif’s gender eligibility.
Algerians strongly defended her, viewing the scrutiny as racially motivated. The gold medal fight was celebrated widely across Algeria, with public broadcasts of the event.
Djamel Sedjati, bronze medallist in the men’s 800m, noted that the achievements of Khelif and Nemour would enhance the visibility of women’s sports in Algeria.
Khelif’s path to gold also faced controversy. Last year, the International Boxing Association (IBA) disqualified her and another athlete, Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting, alleging they were “men” based on tests, although both had competed in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) managed the boxing events in Paris due to ongoing issues with the IBA.
Khelif condemned the “relentless campaign” against her and thanked the Algerian public for their steadfast support. She highlighted the importance of her victory in showcasing the strength and resilience of Algerian women, and expressed pride in restoring Algeria’s honour on the global stage.
“Algerian women are an example and a model for the whole world. Thanks to God, we have restored Algeria’s honour and flown the Algerian flag in Paris, which is the most important thing,” she said.