Imane Khelif has said comments from Donald Trump and Elon Musk during the Olympics were 'hurtful' - while also slamming claims that she's transgender.
The Algerian star found herself thrust into the spotlight out in Paris as she fought her way to the gold medal.
Musk and Trump both criticised Khelif during the competition. Musk shared a post from US swimmer Riley Gaines that said 'men don't belong in women's sports', while adding the word 'absolutely'.
As for Trump, the US presidential candidate posted a picture from one of her fights and said: "I will keep men out of women's sports."
Imane Khelif has said comments from Donald Trump and Elon Musk during the Olympics were 'hurtful' - while also slamming claims that she's transgender
REUTERS
Khelif has filed a cyberbullying lawsuit, with both Musk and Harry Potter author JK Rowling named in the complaint.
Her lawyer has also confirmed that Trump could be part of the investigation.
And Khelif has now fired shots at Trump and Musk, saying their comments were 'hurtful'.
"Immediately after there was a big uproar from big politicians around the world, athletes around the world, and even artists and stars, Elon Musk, Trump.. this thing..... that affected me," she told El Birad.
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"I am not lying to you, it affected me. It affected me a lot, hurt me a lot. I can't describe to you the amount of fear I had.
"The scenario was very scary.
"Thank god, all the people of Algeria and the Arab world knew Imane Khelif with her femininity, her courage, her will,' said the Algerian boxer.
"Honestly, I don't like to get into politics in sports, but they got into politics in sports.
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"Sports and politics are two separate things. These politicians who are oppressing me, they don't have the right to say that I'm a transgender."
Khelif is not transgender and was both born and raised female.
She beat Angela Carini in her first fight of the Olympics, with the Italian withdrawing after just 46 seconds.
Carini was tearful after her defeat but later issued an apology to Khelif after refusing to shake her opponent's hand. The Algerian then went on to win gold with victory over Yang Liu in the final.
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Imane Khelif says Elon Musk and Donald Trump don't 'have the right' to say she's 'a transgender'
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Khelif’s lawyer Nabil Boudi has slammed abuse of the boxer as 'sexist'.
He also says there was 'digital lynching' at play, while revealing her lawsuit is aimed at tackling those who piled in on the boxer online.
“The criminal investigation will determine who initiated this misogynistic, racist and sexist campaign," he said.
Imane Khelif recently won gold at the Paris Olympics to silence her critics
REUTERS
“But will also have to focus on those who fueled this digital lynching.”
On Trump, he added: “JK Rowling and Elon Musk are named in the lawsuit, among others.
“Trump tweeted, so whether or not he is named in our lawsuit, he will inevitably be looked into as part of the prosecution.”
