Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif returned to Algeria on Monday, greeted by a warm reception as the nation rallied behind her amid international scrutiny and misconceptions regarding her gender.
Khelif, who won gold in women’s welterweight boxing at the Paris 2024 Olympics, arrived in Algiers on Monday afternoon along with other Olympic medalists, including gymnast Kaylia Nemour and runner Djamel Sedjati.
Algeria’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Abderrahmane Hammad, welcomed the athletes upon their arrival. The group is scheduled to meet with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune later this week, according to APS, Algeria’s public news agency.
“It’s a dream I had for eight years,” Khelif said of her gold medal win. “We did our best to represent Algeria.”
Khelif became a major storyline during the Paris Games after Italian boxer Angela Carini withdrew just 46 seconds into their bout. Carini, visibly emotional, refused to shake Khelif’s hand, claiming she had never been hit so hard. This incident fueled speculation and misinformation about Khelif’s gender, with world leaders and celebrities questioning her eligibility and some falsely claiming she was male.
In response, Algerians vigorously defended Khelif, interpreting the speculation as rooted in racism. They made their support known both in Paris and across Algeria, where Khelif’s gold medal fight was broadcast in public squares.
Sedjati, who won bronze in the men’s 800 meters, said that the success of Nemour and Khelif would “give a boost to women’s sports in our country.”
