Imane Khelif Makes Olympic History with Gold Medal Win

Imane Khelif, a 25-year-old boxer from Algeria, just made history by winning a gold medal at the Paris Olympics. She beat China’s Yang Liu in the women’s welterweight finals at the iconic Roland-Garros Stadium, fulfilling her eight-year dream of becoming Olympic champion.

After her victory, Khelif couldn’t contain her joy. “I’m very happy. For eight years, this has been my dream and I’m now the Olympic champion and gold medallist,” she said. She expressed her gratitude towards everyone who supported her throughout her journey, especially her coach and the people of Algeria.

The atmosphere was electric as thousands of Algerian fans cheered her on. After receiving her gold medal, she celebrated by raising her fists in the air while the national anthem played. Khelif even placed the medal between her teeth for a fun photo op, soaking in the moment before finally exiting the ring.

Throughout the Olympics, Khelif faced significant challenges, including a gender eligibility controversy surrounding her and fellow athlete Lin Yu-Ting. Despite the noise around her, Khelif delivered strong performances, winning all four of her bouts during the event.

During the final match, Khelif did not appear troubled by Liu’s attempts to attack her. The crowd continuously chanted her name, and she executed her strategy with skill, earning a unanimous decision from the judges after three rounds.

Wearing red, Khelif showed her victory smile while the referee declared her the winner. She took a moment to acknowledge her supporters in the crowd, breaking into dance as she celebrated her win. Her supporters had arrived early and even wore shirts supporting her cause.

After her win, Khelif expressed her happiness not just for herself, but for her country. “Algeria is very happy today,” she said, truly enjoying her moment in the spotlight.