Imane Khelif, a 25-year-old boxer from Algeria, has made history by becoming the first Algerian, Arab, and African woman to win an Olympic gold medal in boxing at the Paris Games. Khelif impressed with a dominant performance in her welterweight match against China’s Yang Liu, winning by a unanimous decision from the judges. The match took place at the iconic Roland-Garros Stadium, where Khelif was greeted by an enthusiastic Algerian audience that cheered for her from the first round to the medal ceremony.
With the Algerian flag in her hands and the crowd’s chants echoing around her, Khelif entered the arena with confidence and determination. “It was my dream to win this medal, and I am very happy to be an Olympic gold medalist,” Khelif told BBC after her victory. “Eight years of hard work, eight years of fatigue, eight years of sleepless nights – this is amazing,” she added.
The match began with intensity as Yang Liu started strong, attempting to push Khelif back. However, the northwest Algerian boxer did not yield and responded with powerful punches. Following a convincing first round, Khelif continued her dominance in the subsequent rounds as Liu struggled to find her rhythm. As the fight approached its conclusion, it was evident that Liu could not regain control, and Khelif secured another victory.
Dressed in red and with a smile on her face, Khelif moved to the center of the ring where the referee raised her left hand in victory. She then thanked the audience and initiated her now-famous victory dance in the ring. After the win, Khelif was carried on the shoulders of her teammates as they paraded around the arena, soaking in the adoration from her many Algerian supporters.
Khelif expressed her gratitude to her team and the numerous people who supported her, especially during a previous gender debate that had been a focal point of attention during the Games. “I want to thank all Algerians here in Paris, as well as those around the world and in Algeria,” she said after the match. “Algeria is very happy today.”