The boxer, who caused a lot of discussion on social networks, emphasized that he is a woman, “born a woman, boxed as a woman” and called on everyone to refrain from insulting athletes.
Algerian boxer Iman Helif won a pre-Olympic medal in the 66 kilogram weight category when he defeated Chinese opponent Yan Liu on August 9.
When Helif entered the ring for his fourth bout at the Paris Olympics, he received a warm welcome from the crowd. Algerian flags were flown throughout the arena.
In the first round, both boxers acted cautiously, but Helif did not lose the advantage and the judges unanimously awarded the round in his favor. In the second round, the fight continued like this, the strong blow of the Algerian boxer did not leave Yang a chance. Helif gained a clear lead and did not lose the lead in the third lap.
“I am very happy. It was my dream for eight years and now I am an Olympic champion and a former medalist. I worked for eight years, insomnia, fatigue for eight years. Now I’m an Olympic champion. I want to thank everyone who came to support me,” he said.
Helif gained world attention by defeating Italian boxer Angela Carini in just 46 seconds in the first bout. The 25-year-old athlete, accused of high levels of testosterone, a male hormone, has become the target of criticism from right-wing politicians and feminists from around the world. They unleashed a wave of hate on Helifa on social networks.
Also in women’s boxing, the Olympic champion was Yu Ting Lin, who entered the ring in the -57 kg weight category and, like Helif, became one of the most unpopular female boxers of the tournament after reports of “high testosterone”. In the final on the evening of August 10, the representative of Chinese Taipei faced Poland’s Julia Sheremeta and won the gold medal. After Lin defeated Sitora Turdibek in the quarterfinals, the Uzbek boxer could not hold back her tears after the match and refused to shake her opponent’s hand.
Algerian Helif and Taiwanese Yu Ting Lin have been disqualified from 2023 by the International Boxing Association (IBA) for “health reasons”. But due to the conflict between the IOC and the IBA, a special commission looked into allowing boxers to participate in the 2024 Olympics, which found no reason to exclude these athletes. “Both are in accordance with the admission regulations and all health indications,” the IOC press release states. — Such aggression against these two athletes is entirely based on an IBA decision that was made without due process. However, these athletes have been competing at a high level for many years.”
In an interview with CNTV earlier this week, Helif called on people to “refrain from insulting athletes in accordance with the Olympic Charter.”
“It can destroy people, kill the mind, the spirit and the thinking of a person,” he says, noting that overcoming the aftermath of his fight with Karini was not easy.
International Olympic Committee representative Mark Adams defended Helif’s participation in the Olympics at the post-match press conference, with Kara saying that she was “born a girl, registered as a woman. He said he lived his whole life as a woman, boxing.” as a woman and his passport said he was a woman.
Helif is Algeria’s first Olympic champion in women’s boxing and the first female boxer to win a gold medal since 1996.
“I have made many statements in the media about whether I qualify or not, whether I am a woman or not. I am fully eligible to participate in these competitions. I am a woman, just like other women. Being born a woman, living as a woman, competing as a woman, no doubt about it – I call them the enemies of success. And these attacks make my success unique,” says Helif.
The Algerians fully supported Helif, former Manchester City midfielder Riyad Mahrez also wished him success at the Olympics. In the last 10 days, the number of followers of Helifa on Instagram increased 10 times – from 150 thousand to 1.6 million.
During 2018-2020, Helif was eliminated in the early stages of the World Cup. In his debut at the Tokyo Olympics, he reached the quarterfinals. In 2022, the Algerian took second place at the World Championships and in 2023 she reached the final, but her participation was canceled on the day of the fight. Then he had to fight Yan Liu.
“The Olympics is a fight for my dignity. This medal comes after many years of hard work. This award belongs to my country and to all Arab countries. I dedicate my victory to Algeria, Algerian women and Algerian boxing,” says Iman Khalif.
