Girls train at Ahmed Qayed school, where Olympic boxer Imane Khelif trained as a youngster, in Tiaret, Algeria, August 6, 2024
IN THE WEEKS since Algeria’s Imane Khelif won an Olympic gold medal in women’s boxing, athletes and coaches in the North African nation say national enthusiasm is inspiring newfound interest in the sport, particularly among women.
Khelif’s image is practically everywhere, featured in advertisements at airports, on motorway billboards and in boxing gyms. The 25-year-old welterweight’s success in Paris has vaulted her to national hero status, especially after Algerians rallied behind her in the face of uninformed speculation about her gender and eligibility to compete.
Amateur boxer Zougar Amina, a medical student who’s been training for a year, called Khelif an idol and role model.
The Khelif gender row shows no sign of being resolved to the satisfaction of anyone involved anytime soon, says boxing writer JOHN WIGHT
