Algerian boxer Imane Khelif got caught up in controversy after her opponent, Angela Carini from Italy, suddenly walked away from their fight at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Even though Khelif was born female and identifies as a woman, her participation in the match stirred up a lot of debate.
Now, her father has finally spoken out.
On August 1, during Khelif’s boxing match with Carini, the fight unexpectedly ended when the Italian boxer left the ring early, saying she was experiencing “severe pain” in her nose.
After her opponent left the match, Imane Khelif was automatically declared the winner. But, some people think she shouldn’t compete against other women because she was disqualified from the 2023 world championships for having high testosterone levels.
Imane’s father, Amar Khelif, defended her, expressing pride in her achievements. He said, “Having such a daughter is an honor because she is a champion. She made me proud, and I encourage her. I hope she wins a medal in Paris.” He also mentioned that Imane has loved sports since she was 6 years old.
To clear up any doubts about her gender, Amar Khelif showed an official document that says, “Imane Khelif, female,” dated May 2, 1999. He insisted that this document is the truth.
The controversy led Angela Carini, the Italian boxer, to apologize to Khelif on August 2. She told an Italian news outlet that she was sorry for what happened and that she respects the decision allowing Khelif to fight. Carini explained that she didn’t mean for things to turn out this way and apologized to Khelif and everyone else.
Imane Khelif also spoke out, asking people to stop bullying athletes. She told SNTV, “Bullying can destroy people’s spirits and minds. It can divide people, and that’s why I’m asking everyone to stop doing it.”
Despite all the controversy, Khelif’s story shows the tough challenges athletes face when they’re under public scrutiny. Her father’s support and her own request for kindness remind us how important it is to show respect and understanding in sports.
As the debate goes on, Khelif is still focused on her goal of succeeding in the Olympics and making her family and country proud. The journey hasn’t been easy, but with her father’s encouragement and her own determination, she aims to overcome these challenges and continue on her path as a champion.
LIAM HEMSWORTH AND GABRIELLA BROOKS STUN ON RARE RED CARPET DATE – SEE THEIR GLAMOROUS PICS!
Liam Hemsworth and his girlfriend, Gabriella Brooks, went out for a date night at the London premiere of Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.
On Friday, May 17, Liam, 34, and Gabriella, 28, posed for photos on the red carpet. Liam dressed casually in a baseball cap, black sweatshirt, and jeans, while Gabriella wore an elegant black silk dress.
Liam’s brother, Luke Hemsworth, 43, joined them on the red carpet. They were there to support their other brother, Chris Hemsworth, 40, who stars in the movie as the villain Immorten Joe, opposite Anya-Taylor Joy, who plays Furiosa. The movie premieres in theaters on May 24.
Liam’s appearance at the premiere comes while he is filming the fourth season of Netflix’s The Witcher. He is taking over the lead role of Geralt of Rivia from Henry Cavill. Netflix plans to film the fourth and fifth seasons back-to-back.
Liam and Gabriella, who have been dating since 2019, are usually private about their relationship on social media. They only post photos of each other occasionally. In March, Gabriella shared a photo of Liam in a series of pictures on Instagram of her swimming in the ocean. She captioned the post, “First swim of Spring it was freezing :),” and included a photo of Liam smiling in a car. Before that, she posted a picture of them together in December 2023 at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne.
The couple was first seen together in public in December 2019, having lunch with Liam’s parents in Byron Bay, Australia. A source told Us Weekly at the time that Liam’s family likes Gabriella, which is very important to him. The insider also said that Liam feels comfortable with her.
In December 2021, Gabriella explained to Stellar magazine why she likes to keep their relationship private. She said, “My personal relationship is very, very important and very sacred to me. In an industry where so much is put out on show, there are some things you just want to keep to yourself. I understand the interest in our relationship, but at the end of the day, I like having that for me.”
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