Imane Khelif: From an Algerian village to Olympic boxing champion in the welterweight category
Imane Khelif, the Olympic champion in the welterweight boxing category, recently appeared on the Clique show for the start of the season. The athlete shared details about her childhood in Algeria, her outstanding performance at the Paris Olympics and her newfound international fame.
Imane Khelif grew up in a small town 400 kilometres south of Algiers. As a child, she initially played football, but soon moved into combat sports due to her aggressive style on the field. “A friend’s brother was a boxer and told me that a coach was looking for girls to form a women’s team. The energy you release when you box… it was like entering another world for me,” the Olympic champion recounted.
With the boxing gym located outside her village, Khelif worked on the side of the road to fund her training. “I was selling materials like plastic and metal just to fund my travels because I fell in love with boxing.” This love for the sport has only grown, taking her to the top of the podium at the recent Olympics, where she took home the gold medal.
“Winning an Olympic medal is every athlete’s dream.” Imane Khelif won the gold medal in the welterweight boxing category at the Paris Games on August 9, 2024, but not without challenges. After defeating her opponent, Angela Carini, in just 46 seconds in the first round, the 25-year-old boxer faced an avalanche of hate messages accusing her of not being a woman. “I didn’t understand Carini’s reaction; she is a colleague and we have trained together.”
Despite the criticism, Khelif stood her ground: “Sometimes I would lock myself in my Olympic room and cry for hours, but I always came out stronger.” The accusations came not only from her opponent, but also from prominent personalities on social media, such as Elon Musk and Donald Trump. “I don’t understand why Trump commented on this. He doesn’t know me, and I don’t know him,” Khelif responded. In the end, the Algerian fighter secured the gold medal by defeating China’s Yang Liu in the final. “I had to win gold to show the world who Imane Khelif really is and silence all these rumors.”
Today, Imane Khelif’s popularity has grown enormously around the world. She has become a symbol, not only for her sporting achievements, but also for her fight outside the ring. “In France, Algeria and neighbouring countries, I am no longer the same Imane as before. In my country, I can no longer go out alone.” Despite her newfound fame, the Olympic medallist remains humble. “All the Algerian people are proud of me and deserve this Olympic victory.”
As for her future, Khelif sees it bright. The boxer wants to continue her passion for as long as possible and aims for an impeccable career surrounded by the best in her field. Her story has garnered so much attention that she has already received numerous offers to make films about her life, with one condition: “I am open to these projects. I think I would be the best person to play my role because I can live it.”
Imane Khelif’s journey from a small Algerian village to Olympic gold is a testament to her resilience, passion and determination. While she continues to inspire countless people around the world, Khelif’s story is far from over. Whether in the ring or beyond, she is determined to continue proving who she is: a champion in every sense of the word.
