Algerian boxer Imane Khelif got caught up in controversy after her opponent, Angela Carini from Italy, suddenly walked away from their fight at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Even though Khelif was born female and identifies as a woman, her participation in the match stirred up a lot of debate.
Now, her father has finally spoken out.
On August 1, during Khelif’s boxing match with Carini, the fight unexpectedly ended when the Italian boxer left the ring early, saying she was experiencing “severe pain” in her nose.
After her opponent left the match, Imane Khelif was automatically declared the winner. But, some people think she shouldn’t compete against other women because she was disqualified from the 2023 world championships for having high testosterone levels.
Imane’s father, Amar Khelif, defended her, expressing pride in her achievements. He said, “Having such a daughter is an honor because she is a champion. She made me proud, and I encourage her. I hope she wins a medal in Paris.” He also mentioned that Imane has loved sports since she was 6 years old.
To clear up any doubts about her gender, Amar Khelif showed an official document that says, “Imane Khelif, female,” dated May 2, 1999. He insisted that this document is the truth.
The controversy led Angela Carini, the Italian boxer, to apologize to Khelif on August 2. She told an Italian news outlet that she was sorry for what happened and that she respects the decision allowing Khelif to fight. Carini explained that she didn’t mean for things to turn out this way and apologized to Khelif and everyone else.
Imane Khelif also spoke out, asking people to stop bullying athletes. She told SNTV, “Bullying can destroy people’s spirits and minds. It can divide people, and that’s why I’m asking everyone to stop doing it.”
Despite all the controversy, Khelif’s story shows the tough challenges athletes face when they’re under public scrutiny. Her father’s support and her own request for kindness remind us how important it is to show respect and understanding in sports.
As the debate goes on, Khelif is still focused on her goal of succeeding in the Olympics and making her family and country proud. The journey hasn’t been easy, but with her father’s encouragement and her own determination, she aims to overcome these challenges and continue on her path as a champion.
Why Your Siblings Are Good for Your Health
One day, siblings are awesome — and the next, they’re a real nightmare. They can be so unpredictable, yet we love them all the same. We call each other names, but if someone does that to our sibling, we’re up in arms. As surprising as it sounds, siblings can actually improve your health. So you may want to think twice before you tell your sibling to leave you alone.
Bright Side encourages you to grab your sibling and take a moment to appreciate each other.
They boost your immune system.
Healthy sibling relationships increase your ability to fight off viruses, even without symptoms. Stress hormones, catecholamines, and glucocorticoids, in particular, have a negative impact on your immune system when you’re sick. The higher your stress levels are, the worse you feel. Luckily, if you have strong social bonds with your siblings or friends, you can control your stress levels, which can help you get over an illness much faster.
Hugging your loved ones can prevent heart disease.
You can keep your blood pressure under control by hugging regularly. If you are worried sick about something, instead of taking some medicine, hug your sibling. Such practices lower blood pressure and heart rate. Even 20 seconds of hugging your loved one can help you avoid heart attacks or pain.
They help you cope with depression.
We often turn to our parents for help when we run into a brick wall in our lives. However, your sibling offers you something that your parents can’t. You open up more to your siblings, find possible solutions together, and the overall feeling of being cared for cheers you up. Your cortisol levels reduce when you have someone to talk to. Additionally, they protect you from stress when you’re a kid.
They prolong your life.
People with poor social connections are 50% more likely to die earlier than people who have tight bonds. This could be because your nearest and dearest encourage you to care about yourself. This becomes especially noticeable when you fall ill. Your siblings make a casserole for you, rub ointment on your back, and demand that you don’t die because they need you.
How many siblings do you have? Did the article make you view them differently?
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