Images of Imane Khelif as a child have surfaced amid the controversy surrounding the Algeria star at the Paris Olympics.
The 25-year-old failed a gender eligibility test at the World Boxing Championships last year but, despite that, has been permitted to take part in the games in France this summer.
Khelif beat Angela Carini on Thursday, with the 25-year-old's power forcing her opponent to withdraw after just 46 seconds of the bout.
Many have been left enraged by the International Olympic Committee's decision to let the Algerian athlete compete.
Imane Khelif chilldhood snaps have surfaced amid the controversy surrounding the Algeria star at the Paris Olympics
REUTERS
Yet her quarter-final showdown against Hungary's Anna Luca Hamori is still expected to go ahead on Saturday.
Now, images of Khelif as a child have surfaced on social media.
Journalist Youcef Zaghba took to X to share three images of Khelief as a child, showing her wearing girls' clothes and smiling for the camera.
Zaghba said: "Make her a trend .. This is our heroine Iman Khalif in her childhood Iman Khalif, daughter of Algeria."
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إجعلوها ترند .. هذه هي بطلتنا إيمان خليف في طفولتها
— يوسف زغبة (@YoucefZaghba) August 1, 2024
إيمان خليف ابنة الجزائر @elonmusk #ImaneKhelif #imanekhelifiswomen #IstandWithImaneKhelif pic.twitter.com/m12KbLHc7h
He also tagged Elon Musk in the post after the X CEO had hit out at the decision to let Khelif compete.
Carini was visibly emotional after being forced to withdraw from the fight on Thursday, with the Italian saying the pain in her nose was too much for her to cope with.
“I wanted just to go to the ring to fight," said the 25-year-old.
“I didn't give up, but a punch hurt too much and so I said enough. Giving up was a gesture of maturity, not of surrender.”
Carini also said she quit to 'save her life'.
"After the second punch, I couldn't breathe anymore," she continued.
"I quit to save my own life.
"I went to my coach and said 'enough' because it takes maturity and courage to stop. I didn't feel like fighting anymore."
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Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni has addressed Carini's defeat.
She fumed: “I have been trying to explain for years that, when taken to the extreme, some theses risk impacting women’s rights.
"I think that athletes who have male genetic characteristics should not be admitted to women’s competitions. Not because we want to discriminate against anyone, but in order to protect the right of female athletes to be able to compete on equal terms”
Algeria's Olympic Committee, however, believe the criticism of Khelif is 'baseless'.
Imane Khelif's involvement at the Paris Olympics has sparked a huge backlash online
REUTERS
They defended their athlete by saying: "Such attacks on her personality and dignity are deeply unfair, especially as she prepares for the pinnacle of her career at the Olympics."
The IOC, however, have defended their decision to let the boxer take part in the games.
"Every person has the right to practise sport without discrimination," a statement read.
"All athletes participating in the boxing tournament of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 comply with the competition’s eligibility and entry regulations, as well as all applicable medical regulations set by the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit (PBU)."
