Since Imane Khelif‘s triumphant victory at the Olympic women’s boxing event, where she secured a gold medal for Algeriathe sport has witnessed a surge in popularity across the North African country. Athletes and coaches alike attribute this newfound enthusiasm, especially among female participants, to the national pride ignited by Khelif’s achievement.
The 25-year-old welterweight champion has become an ubiquitous presence in Algeria, with her image gracing advertisements at airports, highway billboards, boxing gyms throughout the nation.Khelif’s success in Paris has elevated her to the status of a national hero, particularly after Algerians united in support of her when faced with baseless speculation regarding her gender and eligibility to compete.Zougar Amina, an amateur boxer and medical student who has been training for a year, said Khelif is a role model..
“Since I’ve been boxing, my personality has changed: I’m more confident, less stressed,” she said, as quoted by AP, describing the sport as “therapy to fight shyness, to learn to defend myself, to gain self-confidence.”
In the coastal town of Ain Taya, situated east of Algiers, where Amina trains, the phenomenon that local media has dubbed “Khelifmania” is in full swing.
The local gym, hidden behind a door adorned with a sizable photo of the gold medalist, features punching bags suspended from the ceiling. Young girls warm up near a boxing ring, which is encircled by shelves stocked with masks, gloves, and mouth guards.
Malika Abassi, the coach, mentioned that all 23 young women and girls who train at the gym – a repurposed old church – aspire to follow in Khelif’s footsteps.
According to Abassi, the women replicate Khelif’s post-victory celebrations, jumping around the boxing ring and acknowledging fans. She’s concerned that the growing interest in boxing will become so overwhelming that her gym won’t have the capacity to accommodate it.
“We’re getting calls from parents wanting to sign up their daughters,” she told AP. “I’m the only coach and our gym is small.”
Algerians of all backgrounds gathered in the nation’s major cities, congregating in squares to view Khelif’s matches projected on large screens. Her inspiring journey resonated with most of the conservative populace, despite criticism from a handful of influential religious leaders and politicians who disapproved of her boxing attire and the absence of a headscarf.
Nonetheless, Amina Abassi, a fellow amateur boxer training at the same facility, unrelated to Khelif’s coach, expressed her belief that the immense support for Khelif would eclipse any disapproval.
“I’m convinced that even conservative families will allow their daughters to take up boxing,” she said. “Imane has broken through the wall of false modesty and hypocrisy.”
Former amateur boxer and sports journalist Noureddine Bouteldja explained that Khelif has become more than just a boxer, transforming into a “social phenomenon” across Algeria. Her personal journey and the attention she garnered from well-known individuals worldwide, who viewed her Olympic progress through the lens of cultural debates surrounding sex, gender, and athletics, have contributed to her prominence.
Khelif received strong support from Algerians when faced with disapproval from influential figures such as Donald Trump, Elon Musk and J.K. Rowling, who incorrectly asserted that she was transgender. The Algerian people perceived these criticisms as an affront to their country as a whole.
In contrast to the global community that united in support of Khelif, the majority of Algerians on social media could not fathom the concept of a transgender athlete representing their nation.
“It’s the victory of a woman who has shown extraordinary resilience and phenomenal strength of character in the face of the campaign to denigrate her gender,” Bouteldja said.
Khelif’s journey from a humble background in central Algeria to global recognition has turned her into a role model, according to boxing coaches and officials.
Mourad Meziane, the Algerian Boxing League’s president, anticipates a significant increase in young women signing up for boxing classes when the academic year begins in mid-September.
Meziane stated that Algeria presently has 30 regional boxing leagues, with a total of 10,000 athletes participating across the country.
“The impact is inevitable and will only be very positive for women’s boxing in Algeria,” Meziane said.
Khelif’s journey and accomplishments are expected to leave a lasting mark that transcends the realm of boxing, according to civil society leaders and activists.
Aouicha Bakhti, a lawyer, believes that Khelif’s narrative will have an enduring influence on Algerian society. Her story will serve as a counterbalance to certain elements within the community that discourage women from engaging in sports.
“This kind of epic helps society, ours in this case, which is in the process of retreating in the face of fundamentalist ideals,” said Bakhti, a prominent feminist and political activist.
(With AP inputs)
