An emblematic figure in the world of sport after her historic gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Imane Khelif is carving out a place for herself in the world of fashion.
This meteoric rise earned her recognition in prestigious publications. After the front page of Vogue Arabia, the Algerian athlete made the cover of M, the magazine of the newspaper Le Monde which headlines: “ Imane Khelif, birth of a muse ».
In this edition, the weekly magazine returns to the journey of the Algerian champion who became a symbol of identity and resilience, describing her as “ Olympic boxing champion, target of the far-right, adored in Algeria and fashion icon ».
Imane Khelif, a strength forged in adversity
To understand who Imane Khelif is, the young woman that her boxer friend Roumaysa Boualem describes as “ shy, funny and a little naive, who likes to do stupid things and has kept her little girl’s heart “, we have to go back to his childhood.
Coming from a large and poor family, young Imane had to overcome many obstacles to pursue a dream born in the modest village of Biban Mesbah, in Tiaret.
« I even sold bread on the side of the road to get some money ”, to pay for clothes, boxing gloves, and trips to the gym, about ten kilometers from her home, says Imane Khelif.
Very quickly, she encountered the first comments aimed at her physical appearance as a young athlete, even though she was only a pre-teen.
« I have been bullied since I was little. As a child, I was criticized for being too muscular or for walking like a boy. These kinds of comments have always been present in my life, in a more or less violent way. “, she confides to M magazine.
Criticism about her appearance and her career choice did not discourage her. She relied on the unwavering support of her family, then her coaches, including Mohamed Chaoua, coach of the Tiaret civil protection boxing club, who detected her potential very early, to pursue her dream of becoming a great boxer. .
Little by little, the boxer acquires a certain agility which will make her shine on different international stages: the gold medal at the Mediterranean Games in Oran in 2022, the silver medal at the women’s world amateur boxing championships in Istanbul in 2022 , and the 5e place at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
The turmoil of global controversies
With these feats, she caught the eye of Nasser Yefsah, sports director of the Nice Azur Boxe club; and arouses the interest of Pedro Diaz, his Cuban-American coach. These will help her refine her profile as an explosive boxer.
« We established scientific planning which made it possible to work on its physical shortcomings. She had endurance, but she lacked explosiveness, power and defensive reflexes. », Explains Nasser Yefsah to the same media.
Between Nice, Miami and Las Vegas, Imane Khelif alternates training and perfects herself until she achieves technical and physical mastery, the same one that will bring her the Olympic gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, at the age of 25 years old.
Imane Khelif thus makes history by becoming the first African boxer to win Olympic gold, a consecration which does not come without turbulence, always relating to her physique.
In March 2023, the boxer was disqualified from the world boxing championships in New Delhi, while she was the victim of controversial tests on ” criteria of femininity » in the world of sport.
« Nobody understood what was happening: the IBA (International Boxing Association) told us that they were not allowed to box, but refused to give us the results of these tests. Imane was born a girl, she grew up a girl, she didn’t understand what was happening to her », then relates Nasser Yefsah.
Although she took her revenge by winning the women’s boxing final under 66 kg at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, a similar controversy broke out and was amplified by the participation of figures from the global far-right such as the writer JK Rowling, billionaire Elon Musk, and Donald Trump, then candidate for the 2024 American presidential elections, who will not hesitate to ride the Khelif vibe for his electoral campaign.
Carried by her talent and her fans, Imane Khelif has become a fashion icon
However, Imane Khelif will stand firm in the face of this unprecedented hate campaign against an athlete. “ These people like Donald Trump or Elon Musk, they don’t know me, any more than I know them. Based on unverified information, they attacked a young girl who was just there to fulfill her dream », she denounces again.
Today, the Imane Khelif phenomenon goes far beyond the framework of sport. She, who defines herself as “ a strong woman with special powers ”, is now seen as a true global icon.
Her looks and strong personality make her a muse for fashion designers, like Matthieu Blazy, the artistic director of Bottega Veneta.
The latter sees in her “ a champion of determination and authenticity », which is why he invited her to the Milan Fashion Week show last September. For the occasion, the Algerian champion was in the front row, seated next to American actress Julianne Moore.
For fashion and luxury magazines, such as Vogue Arabia, where she appears on the cover, she symbolizes a “ new era of beauty ».
In Algeria, Imane Khelif is none other than a national heroine. If she is acclaimed by the people, she also has the support of the President of the Republic.
His manager Ahmed Delimi explains: “ Imane has very good relations with the president, he has a particular affection for her because he was wali of Tiaret, and he knows the difficulties of this region ».
Faithful to her values and a patriot at heart, the Algerian champion celebrates each victory in the ring with the military salute, thus paying tribute to her country, which her manager confirms: “ When she wins, it’s both for her family and for her flag ».
