Imane Khelif breaks silence with three-word message after controversial Olympics win
Imane Khelif has taken to social media to react to her victory over Angela Carini at the Olympics on Thursday.
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Imane Khelif has taken to social media to react to her victory over Angela Carini at the Olympics on Thursday.
The controversial Algerian athlete landed two powerful punches on her opponent in the first round, with Carini withdrawing after just 46 seconds.
Much has been said and written about Khelif, who has been allowed to compete by the International Olympic Committee despite failing a gender eligiblity test at the World Boxing Championships last year.
But the 25-year-old appears to be solely focused on winning gold out in France, despite all the noise that surrounds her.
Khelif shared a picture of herself beating Carini.
And she accompanied her upload with a caption that read: "Elhamdolilah [which translates as Hallelujah] first victory."
The post, at the current time of writing, has been liked a staggering 131,000 different users on the platform.
Khelif has only ever identified as a female, rather than as male, transgender or intersex.
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The Algeria Olympic Committee have released a new statement on Khelif, backing their 'heroine' and launching a staunch defence of the boxer.
"The International Olympic Committee has reaffirmed its commitment to ensure that all athletes participating in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games comply with the eligibility and compliance rules," it read.
"Our team athletes, including our champion, have always adhered to these regulations in all international competitions. .
"We strongly support our heroine and continue to defend her rights as a fair and qualified competition."
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Carini has received widespread support from around the world since her defeat.
Jake Paul has offered support to the Italian, who was visibly emotional in the ring following her defeat.
Carini withdrew after just 46 seconds and later said that the pain in her nose, sustained following a punch by Kherif, was too much to cope with.
But she's received no sympathy from Hungary's Anna Luca Hamori, who will face the controversial star on Saturday.
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Imane Khelif has taken to social media to react to her victory over Angela Carini at the Olympics on Thursday.
GETTY
"It was her choice [to withdraw]," she told the New York Post.
"I don’t understand, because I thought every boxer’s mind is the same like mine, to never give up.
"But it was her choice. We don’t know what was the reason.
"It’s her life, but I know I want to do this in my own life.”
Imane Khelif reduced Angela Carini to tears with her controversial win at the Paris Olympics on Thursday
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Hamori also says she's not afraid of Kherif and isn't thinking about the controversy that surrounds her upcoming opponent.
“I’m not scared. I don’t care about the press story and social media," she said.
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