Imane Khelif (25, Algeria), the female boxing gold medalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics who was at the center of gender controversy, appeared to emphasize her femininity amid the ongoing debate throughout the competition.
On the 15th, a video collaboration between Khelif and an Algerian beauty company was posted on her social media. In the video, Khelif is seen with her hair tied tightly and wearing boxing gloves, throwing punches at the camera before transforming into a look wearing a floral blouse. She appeared with curled hair, flashy earrings, pink eyeshadow, and lip gloss, highlighting her femininity. Wearing her gold medal around her neck, Khelif smiled gracefully at the camera in her transformed appearance.
The video, which has recorded over 20 million views, received mixed reactions from netizens. Supporters of Khelif left encouraging comments such as "Olympic queen," "You are so beautiful. We support you here in the U.S. too," and "Her beauty is unparalleled." On the other hand, critical comments followed, including "She tried to look like a woman but still looks like a man," "A man dressed like a woman," and "Looks like a Persian prince."
Earlier, Khelif won the women's 66kg boxing category at the Paris Olympics, earning Algeria's first-ever medal in women's boxing history. She demonstrated overwhelming skill in the competition, including a win by opponent's withdrawal just 46 seconds into the first round.
On the 9th (local time), at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, during the women's 66kg boxing final of the 2024 Paris Olympics, Algeria's Imane Khalif (in red), who was embroiled in a gender controversy, secured a victory against China's Yang Liu. [Photo by Yonhap News]
However, she was embroiled in gender controversy throughout the event due to being a woman with 'XY chromosomes.' In fact, at last year's World Championships, she was disqualified for exceeding the testosterone level limit, a male hormone. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) allowed Khelif to compete in the Olympics, stating that "gender cannot be determined by chromosomes alone," enabling her to participate in women's boxing at the Paris Olympics.
Following this, public criticism of Khelif continued on social media. Famous figures from various countries also joined in the criticism. J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series, pointed out, "Should female boxers suffer fatal injuries or even die?" Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, also posted a message stating, "Men should not interfere in women's competitions."
Amid these controversies, Khelif, after winning the gold medal, said at a press conference, "I was born and have lived as a woman just like other women," adding, "The criticism I received on social media was very unfair and even violated human dignity. What I want to say to the world is that everyone should uphold the Olympic spirit and refrain from defaming others."
Recently, foreign media reported that on the 10th, Khelif filed a complaint with the Paris Prosecutor's Office in France requesting an investigation into 'online harassment.' The lawsuit, filed under French law against unspecified individuals, is expected to include Rowling, Musk, and others.
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