Olympic gold medalist Imane Khelif returned to her hometown in Algeria on Friday, greeted by hundreds of cheering fans and local officials.
Khelif, who won gold in boxing at the recent Olympics, praised Algeria for supporting its athletes. “This proves that the government and the people are all behind sports,” she told reporters at a local government office in Tiaret, a largely rural region in central Algeria.
The boxer and track star Djamel Sedjati were honored by local leaders and paraded through the streets atop a city bus as residents snapped photos.
Khelif’s Olympic journey was marked by controversy after she failed unspecified eligibility tests for women’s competition from the International Boxing Association in 2023. This led to international speculation and debate about her sex, despite her being born and raised as a woman.
Many Algerians vigorously defended Khelif, seeing the controversy as an attack on their nation.
“We hope authorities will support her in moments of victory like this as well as throughout the whole year. She has suffered enormously and started from scratch,” said Mohamed Hamou, a Tiaret resident.
Earlier this week, Khelif filed a criminal complaint for cyber-harassment in France. Her lawyer alleged a “misogynist, racist and sexist campaign” throughout the Olympics.
Addressing the controversy on El Bilad, a private Algerian television channel, Khelif said Wednesday, “Why was there such an outcry all over the world? I was afraid, but thank God, I was able to overcome it.”
The boxer added that nobody had the right to question her sex and that she wasn’t someone who enjoyed mixing politics and sports.
Khelif’s success has inspired many in Algeria. Nadjia Fehma, another Tiaret resident, said, “She’s made us really proud, especially given her career path and the way she’s ended up succeeding.”
The athlete’s homecoming highlights Algeria’s growing presence in international sports and the challenges faced by some athletes in the global spotlight.
AP
