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Explore everything about Imane Khelif, the Algerian boxer who clinched Olympic gold in Paris, including the ongoing controversy about her gender, significant successes and personal life.
Who is Imane Khelif?
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Imane Khelif is an Algerian professional boxer who made history by winning gold in the women's 66kg welterweight division at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Despite this incredible achievement, her victory has been overshadowed by controversy and misinformation surrounding her gender and eligibility to compete.
Khelif was previously disqualified from the 2023 Women's World Boxing Championships by the International Boxing Association (IBA) after allegedly failing gender eligibility tests.
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However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) cleared her to compete in the Olympics, stating that she met all the necessary criteria and criticising the IBA's disqualification as "sudden and arbitrary.”
It is important to note that Khelif was born female, and no medical evidence has been publicly presented to challenge this, especially as she consistently competed in women's boxing events for many years leading up to the Olympics.
As of November 2024, Khelif remains an Olympic champion, and her accomplishments deserve recognition.
Imane Khelif Age
As of November 2024, Imane Khelif is 25 years old. She was born on May 2, 1999.
Imane Khelif Height
Imane Khelif is 5 feet 10 inches tall (1.78m/178cm). This puts her above average height for women's welterweight boxers.
Where was Imane Khelif born?
Imane Khelif was born in Ain Sidi Ali, Algeria. This town is located in the Laghouat Province, in the northern part of the country.
However, when she was two months old, her family moved to Biban Mesbah, a rural village in the Tiaret Province, where she grew up.
Imane Khelif birth certificate
Imane Khelif's birth certificate is a private document, and its details are not publicly accessible. This is standard practice to protect individuals' personal information.
However, her father, Omar Khelif, has publicly stated that Imane was assigned female at birth and raised as a girl.
Despite this, there have been questions and controversy surrounding Khelif's gender, fuelled by her disqualification from the 2023 Women's World Boxing Championships due to alleged failures of gender eligibility tests.
Imane Khelif Swyer Syndrome
There has been speculation that Imane Khelif may have Swyer syndrome, but this has not been confirmed.
Swyer Syndrome is a rare genetic condition where a person has XY chromosomes (typically found in males) but develops female physical characteristics.
After Khelif's Olympic victory, questions arose about her eligibility to compete in the women's category.
Imane Khelif vs Angela Carini
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The Imane Khelif vs Angela Carini fight at the 2024 Paris Olympics was a controversial bout that ended abruptly.
It was a Round of 16 match in the women's 66kg welterweight category, which the Algerian won in just 46 seconds after Carini quit.
The Italian claimed she quit because she was in pain after Khelif landed a clean right hand on her face. However, there was speculation that Carini's decision might have been influenced by the pre-fight controversy surrounding Khelif's gender eligibility.
Imane Khelif Olympics
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Even though she rose to prominence during the Paris Games, Imane Khelif’s Olympics debut was at Tokyo 2020 (held in 2021), where she became the first female boxer representing Algeria at the Games. She was eliminated in the quarter-final by Ireland's Kellie Harrington.
Her second involvement in Paris was a mix of triumph and controversy. Khelif won the gold medal in the women's 66 kg welterweight boxing event, a historic achievement for Algeria, as she became the first Algerian woman to win an Olympic gold medal in boxing.
Her victory against China's Liu Yang was overshadowed by questions about her gender eligibility, stemming from her disqualification from the 2023 World Championships after allegedly failing gender eligibility tests.
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After her Olympic win, leaked medical information suggested she might have a difference of sexual development (DSD), further fuelling the controversy.
Imane Khelif Gender Controversy
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Months after clinching gold at the Paris Games, fresh questions surfaced about Imane Khelif's gender, as per a report in the BBC in November 2024.
According to the report, a French magazine Le Correspondant "claimed to have seen a leaked medical report about the Algerian.”
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is defending Imane Khelif's right to compete in women's boxing and dismissing the recent report that questions her eligibility. The IOC says the report relies on "unverified documents.”
Khelif is already taking legal action against those who made comments about her during the Olympics and is now planning another lawsuit in response to this latest report.
The ongoing controversy stems from Khelif's disqualification from the 2023 World Championships by the IBA, who claimed she failed gender eligibility tests.
However, the IOC cleared her to compete in the Olympics, using less stringent criteria and stating she met all the requirements.
Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting
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Imane Khelif (Algerian) and Lin Yu-ting (Taiwanese) are both Olympic boxing champions who faced significant controversy surrounding their eligibility to compete in the women's category at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Both were disqualified from the 2023 World Boxing Championships by the IBA after allegedly failing gender eligibility tests.
However, both were cleared to compete by the IOC and won gold medals at the Paris Games, with Khelif triumphing in the women's 66kg welterweight category, while Lin succeeded in the women's 57kg featherweight category.
Imane Khelif Medals
Olympic Games
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2024 Paris
Gold (Welterweight)
World Championships
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2022 Istanbul
Silver (Light welterweight)
African Championships
2022 Maputo
Gold (Light welterweight)
Mediterranean Games
2022 Oran
Gold (Light welterweight)
Arab Games
2023 Algiers
Gold (Welterweight)
Imane Khelif Record
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Imane Khelif's boxing record is a bit tricky to pin down precisely, as comprehensive records for amateur boxers are not always readily available.
Nevertheless, she has been competing at a high level since the 2018 AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships, finishing 17th in the women's lightweight event.
After another early exit at the 2019 event, Khelif has since enjoyed success at several events, including the 2022 IBA Championships in Istanbul, the African Championships in the same year and the 2023 Arab Games in Algiers, before recording significant triumph at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Imane Khelif Family
While there is little information about Imane Khelif's mother and siblings (if any), her father, Omar Khelif, has been very vocal in defending his daughter.
He has publicly stated that she was assigned female at birth and raised as a girl, showing documents to the media to support this claim and has expressed pride in her achievements.
Imane Khelif Husband
Imane Khelif is not married and therefore does not have a husband.
There is no public information available about her being in a relationship either. Khelif and her family tend to keep their personal lives private, focusing primarily on her boxing career and addressing the controversies surrounding her eligibility.
Imane Khelif Vogue
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Imane Khelif's appearance in November issue of Vogue Arabia is a significant moment that goes beyond the world of sports.
The fashion shoot portrays Khelif in a powerful and elegant light, highlighting her athleticism and confidence.
The Algerian’s appearance in Vogue Arabia can inspire young girls and women, particularly those from marginalised communities, to embrace their individuality and pursue their dreams, regardless of the obstacles they may face.
Imane Khelif Net Worth
Several sources place Imane Khelif's net worth between $1 and $3 million.
While Algeria does not publicly disclose prize money for Olympic medals, Khelif likely received a significant sum for winning gold.
As an Olympic gold medallist, Khelif may have attracted sponsorships from various brands. These deals can provide a significant income stream for athletes.
The Algerian’s net worth is likely to grow as her career progresses.
Imane Khelif Instagram
Imane Khelif's Instagram handle is @imane_khelif_10 — as of November 2024, the Algerian has 2.1 million followers.
She shares photos and videos of her training, competitions, and achievements and a glimpse into her life outside of the sport.
Khelif also has an account on X (formerly Twitter), even if she is not as active there. She has 29,100 followers @ImaneKhelif.
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