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PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 09: Imane Khelif of Team Algeria celebrates winning the gold medal with Team Algeria Coaches Mohamed Chaoua and Mohamed Al-Shawa after the Boxing Women's 66kg Final match against Liu Yang of Team China on day fourteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Roland Garros on August 09, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images)
Imane Khelif is an Olympic gold medalist and no one can take that away from her.
The Algerian boxer defeated China's Yang Liu in the women's 66kg (welterweight) final, 5-0, to cap off a dominant run through the tournament despite worldwide conspiracies and outright lies about her gender.
Khelif was born a woman, raised as a woman and competes as a woman in compliance with all IOC rules, and while the conversation around her — not to mention the relentless bullying — has become increasingly toxic, Khelif continued fighting her way to the podium until she was standing on top of it.
The 25-year-old has handled her Olympics experience with as much grace as anyone could have in her situation. Now, after all the bigotry and hatred she's faced, she'll be heading home with a gold medal and the support of her native country.
Khelif's celebration after the match on Friday at Roland Garros really says it all.
PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 09: Imane Khelif of Team Algeria poses for a photo after winning the gold medal following the Boxing Women's 66kg Final match against Liu Yang of Team China on day fourteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Roland Garros on August 09, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 09: Liu Yang of Team China looks on as Match Referee Jakov Peterson raises the hand of Imane Khelif of Team Algeria to announce the winner of the Boxing Women's 66kg Final match on day fourteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Roland Garros on August 09, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
Algeria's Imane Khelif reacts after beating China's Yang Liu (Blue) in the women's 66kg final boxing match during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Roland-Garros Stadium, in Paris on August 9, 2024. (Photo by Mauro PIMENTEL / AFP) (Photo by MAURO PIMENTEL/AFP via Getty Images)
Algeria's Imane Khelif reacts after beating China's Yang Liu (Blue) in the women's 66kg final boxing match during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Roland-Garros Stadium, in Paris on August 9, 2024. (Photo by Mauro PIMENTEL / AFP) (Photo by MAURO PIMENTEL/AFP via Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 09: Imane Khelif of Team Algeria celebrates winning the gold medal with Team Algeria Coaches Mohamed Chaoua and Mohamed Al-Shawa after the Boxing Women's 66kg Final match against Liu Yang of Team China on day fourteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Roland Garros on August 09, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
Aug 9, 2024; Paris, France; Imane Khelif (ALG) celebrates victory over Yang Liu (CHN) in a women’s 66kg gold medal bout during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Stade Roland Garros. Mandatory Credit: Andrew P. Scott-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 9, 2024; Paris, France; Yang Liu (CHN) raises Imane Khelif (ALG) hand after a women’s 66kg gold medal bout during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Stade Roland Garros. Mandatory Credit: Andrew P. Scott-USA TODAY Sports
This article originally appeared on For The Win: 7 photos of Algerian boxer Imane Khelif triumphantly celebrating her gold medal victory at the Olympics
