Imane Khelif Earns Third Place in AP’s Female Athlete of the Year Amid Controversy

[Social Media]

 

Imane Khelif, an Olympic gold medalist boxer, has secured the third spot in the Associated Press’s Female Athlete of the Year rankings. The award, which honors outstanding female athletes, was decisively won by basketball sensation Caitlin Clark. However, Khelif’s inclusion among the top contenders has stirred debate due to her tumultuous year in the boxing world.  

Imane Khelif has just been ranked 3rd place in the AP’s Female Athlete of the Year list despite sparking gender row controversy during the Paris Olympics.

pic.twitter.com/d4f1vKr5Cm

— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) December 25, 2024

 

A panel of 74 sports journalists from The Associated Press and its member organizations cast their votes for the award. Clark emerged as the clear winner with 35 votes, followed by Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, who received 25. Khelif, however, garnered four votes, placing her third in a competitive field.  

 

The Algerian boxer’s year was marked by a significant controversy that brought her athletic career under intense scrutiny. Khelif qualified for the Paris Olympics but faced disqualification from the 2023 World Championships just before competing for gold. The disqualification stemmed from gender eligibility concerns, as the International Boxing Association (IBA) President Umar Kremlev stated that Khelif had “XY chromosomes,” typically associated with biological males.  

 

Despite the controversy, Khelif’s prowess in the ring was undeniable. She claimed gold in Paris, a victory achieved without dropping a single round on any scorecards. Notably, her opponent Angela Carini, an eight-time Italian women’s champion, opted to forfeit her bout against Khelif, citing the intensity of Khelif’s punches. “One punch hurt too much,” Carini remarked.  

 

Khelif’s disqualification wasn’t an isolated incident. Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting, another boxer who clinched a women’s gold medal in Paris, faced similar backlash after failing gender eligibility tests. Both athletes found themselves at the center of a heated debate regarding their inclusion in women’s events.  

 

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) criticized the IBA for its handling of the matter, defending Khelif and Yu-ting’s participation. “These two athletes were the victims of a sudden and arbitrary decision by the IBA. Towards the end of the IBA World Championships in 2023, they were suddenly disqualified without any due process,” the IOC stated during the games.  

 

Despite the challenges, Khelif’s victory in Paris underscored her dominance in the sport. However, her success continues to provoke mixed reactions. Following her recent win, Carini referred to her latest championship title as “revenge,” a reflection of the tension and rivalry that has surrounded Khelif’s career.  

 

Imane Khelif’s story is one of both triumph and controversy, showcasing her undeniable talent while reigniting conversations about gender eligibility in competitive sports.

 

Based on a report by NYP 2024-12-27

 

 

 

[JonnyF]

Awards for blokes beating up women in a boxing ring. 

 

What a time to be alive. 

[mikeymike100]

" Khelif, however, garnered four votes, placing her third in a competitive field."

 

it's not a her, it's a HIM!! 

[Theforgotten1]

And a rat won an award for being the smallest horse in a competition, just as stupid

[JonnyF]

2 hours ago, Theforgotten1 said:

And a rat won an award for being the smallest horse in a competition, just as stupid

 

I'm actually considering buying a thoroughbred racehorse that identifies as a donkey and entering it into the local donkey derby. I'll rename it from Trigger to Jackazz. 

 

When it dominates, it could win "Donkey of the year" award and be celebrated by Liberals worldwide for it's immense bravery in the face of far right bigotry. 😆

[The Old Bull]

I don't understand why any woman boxer would enter the ring with him. They should totally boycott anything he is associated with.

 

[dinsdale]

Khelif’s inclusion among the top contenders has stirred debate due to her tumultuous year in the boxing world being a man.  

[youreavinalaff]

Uneducated and uninformed comments here, as expected.