Victim of racist and sexist attacks from the world of boxing since she announced her co-candidacy to lead the French Federation, champion Sarah Ourahmoune says she “damaged” and tells why she wants “bounce back” after giving up the election, in an interview with AFP.
“When you take too many hits, sometimes it’s better to throw in the towel”says the silver medalist at the 2016 Olympic Games and current vice-president of the French Boxing Federation.
“I come out damaged”continues Ourahmoune, who wishes to make his commitment ” elsewhere “ et “will think about how to bounce back”.
The 2008 world champion (flyweight), also involved in the proceedings of the French Olympic committee, was warned by her acquaintances that in « discussions » who does not “were not addressed directly”notably “Whatsapp groups of coaches” from boxing clubs, comments targeting her appeared such as “Arab service”, “housekeeper of the federation”, “the female dog of…”
The messages began with the announcement of his co-candidacy, shared with outgoing president Dominique Nato, in the daily L'Equipe on November 4. First it was about messages “not very pleasant” more “we did not go into the area of racism and sexism at the start”she rewinds. Then it escalated. “I was expecting personal or sexist attacks, but here, such violence, so direct, so uninhibited (…) without necessarily someone saying stop”she says.
So, after several days of receiving “screenshots” Because of these racist and sexist comments, she decided to withdraw her candidacy. “It’s a sincere commitment, I do it for my sport and for the clubs”. Impossible to continue, even though she knows it's just a “small handful” from the boxing world who attacked her.
Of course, since announcing her withdrawal on Monday, she has received “lots of messages of support from people who tell him 'No, but we must not give up, we must let them win!'”. But his decision is irrevocable. Give up “it’s also sending a strong signal” to say “I refuse this behavior, I refuse to condone this”she insists.
“Attacked from its environment”
Running for Ourahmoune meant continuing his fight “so that there are more women in the authorities”, “feminize” the federation and also “prepare the next generation”in a French federal world which leaves little power to women.
She said she also received messages of support from former and current ministers, from the French sporting world, including from “clubs, coaches and athletes”. This champion, specialized educator, and head of her business « Boxer Inside »is known for its actions to promote women in sport, children and adolescents, attached to sport as a tool for inclusion and emancipation.
“Being attacked by my community hurts because I feel that I have still positively carried the values and the image of my sport, whether in the rings or outside, I still gave a lot and I continue to do so today”she explains.
Filing a complaint
She plans to go to the police station in her town of Aulnay-sous-Bois (Seine-Saint-Denis) on Thursday to “go file a complaint”.
The French boxing federation “will be a civil party”Dominique Nato told AFP on Thursday. “It’s an election period, some will stop at nothing”he blurted out, “deploring” the attacks targeting his ex-running mate. Opposite, a list is led by another big name of the ring: Estelle Mossely, gold medalist at the Rio Olympics, who is seeking the presidency in the elections of December 14.
“She sent me a message of support straight away”explains Sarah Ourahmoune.
In the end, the champion regrets the bad publicity for the world of boxing. “We had already been in difficulty for around ten years. We only talk about boxing around issues of interference and cheating”she said.
At the global level, tensions are at a maximum between the International Federation (IBA) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), to the point that the presence of boxing at the Olympics is currently in the spotlight.
