Imane Khelif says she “cannot describe the amount of fear” she experienced amid the very public controversy over her eligibility during her Olympic boxing triumph.
The Algerian, speaking publicly for the first time since filing her cyberbullying lawsuit, says she was “hurt” and “scared” by the attention and harassment she received on social media during the tournament in Paris.
Khelif faced abuse after her presence at the Games became the subject of fierce contention. She comprehensively defeated China’s Yang Liu by unanimous decision to win the 66kgs final.
The welterweight had been confronted by accusations from International Boxing Association, the boxing body that has been expelled from the Olympic movement, that she should not be competing in the women’s category.
The IBA used an unspecified eligibility test to disqualify Khelif from its world championships last year, a verdict delivered only once she reached the final.
The International Olympic Committee cleared Khelif to compete, but the dispute over her place at Paris 2024 reached fever pitch when she abruptly halted Italy’s Angela Carini in just 46 seconds.
“Immediately after my opening victory at the Olympics, there was a big uproar from politicians around the world, from big athletes around the world, and even from artists and global stars,” Khelif said.
“Elon Musk, Donald Trump, this thing affected me, to be honest. It affected me a lot. It hurt me a lot. I cannot describe to you the amount of fear which I experienced.
“I was afraid that I would say to myself: ‘Why did Imane Khelif insist on this? Why was there big uproar from around the world?’
“I was afraid. But, thank God, I was able to overcome this stage. Thanks to the psychiatrists who helped me to overcome this stage.
“And what can I say about this stage? It was not enough. It was a very difficult stage. I could not wait for it to pass. The scenario was very scary.
“Thank God, all the people of Algeria and the Arab world knew the real Imane Khelif, with her femininity, her courage, her determination.”
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