Imane Khelif: A fighter in every sense of the word

Imane Khelif is an Algerian boxer who… we’re just kidding, do we really need to tell you? No news channel, Tiktok edit, or media platform remains unconquered. Imane’s journey to becoming a boxing champion is one of perseverance, resilience, and undeniable talent, marked by milestones that have etched a point of pride into Algerian history.

Born in 1999 in Laghouat Province, Algeria, Imane demonstrated her zeal for sports at a young age. As a child, she played football with the local boys in her rural village, and she excelled at it despite football not being seen as a game fit for girls. In fact, she was so good that the boys in her village felt threatened and picked on her, often escalating to physical fights. It was ducking the punches of local boys that eventually got her into boxing at age 16; taking up the sport, Imane discovered that it was as a way to channel her physical energy and hone her talent, even in the face of resistance from those around her—a fitting practice for someone who thrives fighting back. 

Though her father was initially against boxing for girls, Imane fought for her dream anyway and literally. The decision to train was not a simple one; with her father working as a welder in the desert, Imane struggled to afford the sessions or even the transportation needed to get to them. Steadfast, she sold scrap metal and her mother’s couscous to make the bus fare needed to attend boxing training, 10 kilometres away from the province she grew up in. These early years of unstoppable grit set the stage for the formidable athlete she would eventually become. 

Imane stepped into the ring for her first official fight in 2016 at a national championship. Overwhelmed by fear, she was reticent at the start, but her resolve never wavered. With the guidance of her coach, Mohamed Chaoua, she soon began racking up national victories, earning a reputation as a fierce competitor. This streak of determination and talent opened the doors to the Algerian national team, where Imane’s rise was nothing short of meteoric.

By 2018, she had entered the international arena, competing in the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in New Delhi. Although eliminated in the first round, the experience ignited her hunger for improvement. A year later, she returned to the World Championships in Russia, finishing 33rd after another early exit. Rather than discouraging her, these early setbacks only sharpened her focus and will.

Imane’s hard work began to pay off in 2021. She clinched gold at the Istanbul Bosphorus International Boxing Tournament, a victory that launched her decidedly as a contender on the world stage. She also became the first Algerian female boxer to compete in the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics that same year. Advancing to the quarterfinals, she fell short of a medal but her participation was a historic first for Algerian women in the sport. 

In 2022, the record-breaking didn’t stop. She secured gold at the Strandja Memorial Tournament and made history as the first Algerian to reach the final at the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships, where she earned a silver medal. She continued to collect gold at the Mediterranean Games and the African Amateur Boxing Championships—just a prelude to the triumph that awaited. 

The following year, Imane relocated to Nice, France, joining the Nice Azur club to access better training facilities and exposure to international competition. However, controversy struck when she was disqualified before the final bout at the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships. The setback was short-lived. With the IOC stepping in to overturn the suspension, Imane bounced back, taking gold at the Arab Games.

Knocking out achievement after achievement finally brought Imane to the Paris Summer Olympics in August 2024, which became the crowning moment of Imane’s journey. Fighting her way through the competition, she defeated China’s Yang Liu in a thrilling final claim to Algeria’s first-ever gold medal in women’s boxing. Her triumph was a monumental win for Algerian sports, inspiring a new generation of athletes to redefine what can be achieved.

Her path to the Olympic victory was briefly interrupted by a controversy too absurd to unspool. Along with her win came vitriol spewed by a flock of famously unserious personages, including an openly bigoted, has-been author, a pro-genocide, deadbeat-dad-of-7 billionaire, and a misogynistic YouTuber-turned-rookie-boxer. But her country stood behind her unflinchingly, and Khelif prevailed, coming home sporting gold.

Now a professional boxer and UNICEF national ambassador—and a rampant phone wallpaper for her many admirers—Imane’s legacy transcends the ring. Reckoning with her well-deserved spotlight, she can now be seen on the cover of Vogue Arabia or sandwiched between Kendall Jenner at A$AP Rocky in the front row of Bottega Venetta’s show at Milan Festival. Imane’s extraordinary trajectory has made her a national icon in Algeria and a symbol of empowerment for women everywhere. Through grit and grace, and with her country behind her, Imane has proved that the only box she belongs in is in the ring.