Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, who has recently won a gold medal at the Paris Olympics has undergone a deep makeover to reflect on her success. Khelif, who became an object of discussion during the Games, has also posted her transformation on Instagram, showing the medal and a new feminine look.
Khelif’s rise to Olympic glory was not without a fair amount of controversy. Earlier in the year, she and Taiwanese boxer Angie Zhao Lin Yu-ting were disqualified from the 2023 World Championship by the IBA (International Boxing Association) after reportedly failing a gender eligibility test.
But this was not the end of it; Khelif bounced back and responded to all critics when she performed a marvellous performance in Paris.
In her latest social media post, Khelif is seen initially throwing punches towards the camera, a nod to her boxing prowess. The video then switches to find her dressed in pretty pink floral apparel with hoop earrings, pink eyeliner, and lip gloss. The Olympic player flaunts her gold medal and is full of smiles.
Khelif’s participation in the Olympics was hotly debated, particularly after Italian fighter Angela Carini forfeited their match just 46 seconds in. In defending Khelif’s right, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) remarked, “Women must be allowed to take part in women’s competitions. And the two are women.”
Responding to the controversy that trailed the event, Khelif came out very strong and assertive, “I am fully qualified to take part in this competition. I am a woman like any other woman. I was born a woman. I have lived as a woman. I competed as a woman; there is no doubt about that.”
However, ever since her win, Khelif has received severe backlash from different personalities such as the former U. S. President, Donald Trump, who publicly embarrassed her by calling her a man.
In a cyberbullying lawsuit, Khelif has identified Trump, Elon Musk, and JK Rowling as individuals who have harmed her profoundly by their comments.
