Imane Khelif, the Algerian boxer and gold medallist at the Paris Olympics 2024, is making headlines again for another reason. Caught in a gender row recently, the athlete recently underwent a makeover, as a viral video clip revealed.
The gender row was triggered after the International Boxing Association (IBA) barred Imane Khelif and Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting from participating in the World Boxing Championship in 2023 due to the presence of XY chromosomes. This year, the 25-year-old boxer became a victim of online harassment after her first fight at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris against Italy's Angela Carini, who gave up just after 46 seconds.
Despite being a victim of online harassment and labeled a ‘biological male,’ Imane Khelif did not lose focus and went on to become the first Algerian woman ever to win Olympic gold. She took a legal route soon after her victory to file a formal complaint against online harassment. The complaint also mentioned Tesla owner Elon Musk and famous British author JK Rowling.
After filing the lawsuit, the athlete termed social media reaction ‘immoral’ and said, “I want to change the minds of people around the world,” reported Reuters. Meanwhile, Imane Khelif's lawyer Nabil Boudi noted, “The boxer Imane Khelif has decided to begin a new fight for justice, dignity, and honor,” reported AFP.
He added, “The investigation will determine who was behind this misogynist, racist, and sexist campaign, but will also have to concern itself with those who fed the online lynching.”
In the video clip, the Algerian boxer can be seen wearing some make-up while her Olympic gold medal hangs around her neck. Dressed in an Algerian caftan adorned with a sparkling white smile, her floral-hoop earrings match her outfit.
Netizens strongly reacted to this post. A user tweeted, “I’m sure it’s completely unrelated to the lawsuit.” Another user remarked, “She’s stunning….” A third user commented, “She isn't lying, the media speaks the wrong thing, without evidence.” A fourth user tweeted, “She looks beautiful.”
A fifth user stated, “Imane Khelif shows off the results of new makeover.” Another user wrote, “Look at this beauty.” A seventh user stated, “I think she's very pretty and it is very sad when I know that she probably heard that all her life. And all women who are probably called out for their looks.” A user said, “We shouldn't overdo it either, in terms of boxing she is strong but in terms of beauty she is average, let's be honest.”
