Algerian Amateur Boxer Imane Khelif’s Parents Initially Opposed Her Boxing Career!
Imane Khelif, a prominent figure in the Paris 2024 Olympics who swiftly defeated her opponent “Angela Carini” in 46 seconds, has parents of Muslim religion who were not very supportive of her boxing career during her childhood.
Imane Khelif is an Algerian amateur boxer, recognized for her participation in the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships since 2018.
Khelif’s first international Olympic appearance was at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where she reached the quarterfinals before losing to Kellie Harrington.
Imane Khelif has recently been in the media spotlight due to speculation about her being biologically male.
Imane Khelif Pursued Boxing Despite Her Parents Traditional Upbringing!
Born on 2 May 1999 in Tiaret, Algeria, Imane Khelif was raised by parents who were not very supportive of her athletics career at the beginning.
Her father used to work as a welder in the Sahara desert, while her mother supported her by selling couscous.
Imane Khelif grew up following the Muslim religion, where she was expected to attach to traditional roles for women and was not encouraged to participate in sports.
Despite these cultural expectations, she remained determined to pursue a career in boxing. With some support from her mother, she started her training in a town far from home.
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Furthermore, with three years of intense training, Imane became 17th at the 2018 World Championships in New Delhi and later represented Algeria at the 2019 World Championships in Russia.
With her rising fame in boxing, her parents, especially her father, understood their daughter’s passion and started to support her ongoing career.
Despite her rising fame in boxing, Imane is facing criticism and speculation about her gender identity, especially after her recent match with Angela.
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While there is no official claim that she is biologically male or transgender, some prominent public figures, including author J.K. Rowling, have commented on her identity.
She encountered similar issues last year when officials disqualified her from the 2023 championships just before a gold medal bout due to gender eligibility concerns.
Additionally, claims have surfaced that a gender test revealed Imane has high levels of testosterone and XY chromosomes, which means she won’t be able to get pregnant in the future.
Furthermore, while some sources claim she is a woman and others suggest she is transgender, the truth about her identity remains a mystery.
Additional Information
- Imane Khelif used to play foot football before entering the boxing field.
- She used to sell scrap metal and collect money for the bus fare to travel to another town for her training.
- In 2022, she became the first Algerian female boxer to reach the final of the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships.
