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.
My Foster Dad Gave Me One Dollar on My 5th Birthday — Years Later It Radically Changed My Life When I Was at My Lowest
Clichés about small things having big impacts usually roll off your ears, right? But for me, a single birthday gift, a dollar bill no less, became the unlikely lifeline that transformed my life as a homeless kid. This is the story of how that crumpled dollar bill not only carried me through the toughest times but also steered me on a path to success I never dared to dream of.
A white couple with their black foster son | Source: Midjourney
I was two years old when Steve and Linda, my foster parents, took me in. They were a white couple with big hearts and already had eight Black foster kids like me. They treated us all like their own children.
I didn’t even know what my biological parents looked like, and honestly, I didn’t care much because Steve and Linda were everything I could ever hope for in my parents.
Being the youngest, I was always shy and thought everyone else was better than me. But Steve, my foster dad, had a way of making me feel special.
A white father laughing with his black foster son | Source: Midjourney
I remember how he’d kneel down, look me straight in the eyes, and say, “Dylan, you’re just as good as anyone else. You’ve got a spark in you, kid.”
My fifth birthday was a turning point in my life, though not in the way most birthdays are. That was the day my biological parents showed up out of nowhere. They wanted me back, and for reasons I couldn’t understand, the authorities decided I should go with them.
A grayscale photo of a white father comforting his sad black son | Source: Midjourney
I remember the day I had to leave like it was yesterday. I was crying my heart out as I hugged Steve one last time. “Dad, I’ll never be anything,” I sobbed. “I’m just a loser.”
Steve hugged me tighter and whispered, “Happy birthday, Dylan. Here’s something for you.” He handed me a one-dollar bill and added, “There’s a special message for you written on this bill. Never lose it.”
At the time, I couldn’t read or write, so I didn’t pay much attention to those words. I just shoved the bill into my pocket and held onto Steve, not wanting to let go.
A one-dollar bill lying on a table | Source: Midjourney
Leaving my foster family was the hardest thing I had ever done. My biological parents took me to Europe, where we lived together. But it didn’t take long for their true colors to show. They weren’t doing well financially or emotionally, and two years later, they abandoned me in a park.
I was seven years old then, alone, and scared. I remember sitting on a park bench, clutching the dollar bill Steve had given me. It was the only piece of my past that I had left.
A black boy sitting alone on a bench in a park | Source: Midjourney
That day, I made a promise to myself. “No more orphanages and no more foster families, Dylan. You’re going to make it on your own.”
And so, for the next nine years, I lived on the streets, begging for money and doing odd jobs just to get by. Life was tough, and many nights I went to bed hungry. I learned to be resourceful and always kept that dollar bill close to me. It was a reminder of better times and the love I once knew.
A homeless black boy on the streets | Source: Midjourney
One day, I met a homeless man named Jacob. He was older, with a kind face and a worn-out look. We struck up a friendship, and he took me under his wing.
“Hey, kid,” Jacob said one evening as we sat under a streetlight. “Got something for you.” He pulled out an old, tattered book he had found in the trash. “We’re gonna learn to read and write.”
Every evening, we’d sit together with that book. Jacob would patiently point at the words and say, “Dylan, you’ve got to learn this. It’s your way out of here.”
A black man on the street teaches a homeless black boy to read a book | Source: Midjourney
I soaked up everything he taught me, and slowly, I started to read and write. It felt like a small spark of hope in an otherwise bleak existence. I never told Jacob about the dollar bill or the message written on it.
It was my little secret, a connection to my past that I wasn’t ready to share. Life on the streets was tough, but Jacob and I managed to find small joys in the little things. We shared stories about our pasts, laughed about the absurdity of life, and dreamed about a better future.
A homeless black boy looks at the starry sky at night | Source: Midjourney
“Jacob, do you think we’ll ever get out of here?” I asked one night, staring up at the stars.
Jacob smiled softly, his eyes filled with a mix of hope and reality. “Maybe, Dylan. But no matter what, we have to keep believing we can. That’s what keeps us going.”
Over time, Jacob became the closest thing to family I had, and his friendship kept me going through the darkest times. His belief in me was unwavering, and it was that belief that fueled my determination to survive and succeed.
A homeless black boy lying underneath a bridge | Source: Midjourney
One day, while lying under a bridge, I accidentally pulled out that same dollar bill my foster dad Steve had given me years ago. It was crumpled and faded, but the memory of Steve’s comforting words came rushing back.
I remembered there was supposed to be a message for me on it. So, with trembling hands, I unfolded it. Here’s what it said: “You are my son and always will be, no matter what. I always believed in you and always will. This dollar is lucky. With it, you will succeed, but you have to believe in yourself!”
A closeup shot of a black teenager holding an old and crumpled one-dollar bill | Source: Midjourney
Those words hit me hard. They reignited a spark inside me that had long been smothered by years of hardship. I read the message over and over, letting Steve’s belief in me sink in. Little did I know that this very message would radically change my life.
From that day on, I was determined to turn my life around. I started working harder than ever, taking on any job I could find. Mornings were spent cleaning up at a local diner.
A teenage black boy is washing dishes in a restaurant | Source: Midjourney
In the afternoons, I helped an old man named Mr. Johnson with his garden, and in the evenings, I worked as a dishwasher at a small restaurant. I barely had time to rest, but I didn’t care. I was on a mission.
One day, while I was scrubbing dishes in the back of the restaurant, an elderly man walked in. He had a distinguished air about him, and everyone seemed to know and respect him. He watched me work for a while, then approached me. “You’re quite the hard worker, aren’t you?” he said, his eyes twinkling with curiosity.
An elderly man talks to a black guy in a restaurant | Source: Midjourney
I wiped my hands on my apron and nodded. “I have to be. I don’t have much of a choice.”
He smiled. “What’s your name, son?”
“Dylan, sir.”
“Well, Dylan, I’m Mr. Brown. I’ve been watching you for a few days now, and I’m impressed by your dedication. How would you like to work for me?”
I was stunned. “Work for you? Doing what?”
“I need a driver. Someone reliable and hardworking. You fit the bill. I’ll help you get the necessary documents, a passport, and anything else you need.”
A black man driving a car | Source: Midjourney
I couldn’t believe my ears. “Why me?”
Mr. Brown chuckled. “Because you remind me of myself when I was your age. Determined, hardworking, and willing to do whatever it takes. So, what do you say?”
I didn’t hesitate. “Yes, sir. I’d be honored.”
Working for Mr. Brown was the break I needed. He taught me everything he knew about business, and over the years, he became like a mentor to me. He showed me the ropes, and I soaked up every bit of knowledge he shared.
A black man flying in an airplane | Source: Midjourney
After a few years, he trusted me enough to appoint me as the manager of his company’s branch in the USA.
When I flew to the USA, the first thing I did was visit my foster parents’ house. They were older now, and when I knocked on the door, it took a moment for them to recognize me. But once I explained who I was, they hugged me in tears.
Steve, my foster dad, looked at me with pride in his eyes. “Dylan, is it really you?”
A black man hugging his white foster dad | Source: Midjourney
I nodded, tears streaming down my face. “It’s me, Dad. I made it.”
I pulled out that same dollar bill, which I had kept safe all these years, and handed it to him. “It really works! This dollar is lucky!”
Steve smiled, a tear rolling down his cheek. “When you didn’t know it was lucky, you were homeless. As soon as you knew it was lucky, you succeeded. Maybe it’s not the dollar but you?”
I laughed through my tears and hugged him tight. “Maybe you’re right, Dad.”
A black man smiling while holding a crumpled one-dollar bill | Source: Midjourney
He chuckled. “Besides, I pulled it out of my wallet just five minutes before I handed it to you all those years ago. I was deciding between a five-dollar bill and a one-dollar bill. I chose the one-dollar!”
We both laughed, holding each other close. It felt like coming home after a long, hard journey. I realized then that the true luck wasn’t in the dollar bill but in the love and belief Steve had always had in me.
A white elderly man is laughing with his black son at home | Source: Midjourney
Reuniting with my foster family felt like a full-circle moment. Despite all the hardships, I made it through, thanks to the love and support of my foster parents and the lessons learned from friends like Jacob.
Life had thrown many challenges my way, but with resilience, hard work, and a bit of luck, I had overcome them. And through it all, I learned that the most important thing was to believe in yourself, just as Steve had believed in me.
A happy black man standing in his office | Source: Midjourney
Want to explore more heartwarming stories? Click here to read another one: Imagine losing your everything, then defying the world to honor their memory. That’s where this story starts. My son, a dream tragically shattered, and a trip to Europe that took an unexpected turn: one that revealed the true depths of grief and love. Let me tell you about it.
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
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