Algerian boxer Imane Khelif was overwhelmed with emotion, breaking down in tears after winning the 66 kg quarter-final boxing match against Hungary’s Anna Luca Hamori. This victory came after an intense few days.

Khelif’s winning fight against Hamori:

Imane Khelif Wins Olympic Quarter-Final Fight Against Anna Luca Hamori

Credit: BBC One

On August 3, Hamori posted a controversial image on Instagram, which was later deleted, depicting a muscular horned monster facing off against a female boxer.

The image shared on Hamori’s story. Credit: Luca Hamori / Instagram

Khelif, who received a rockstar-like welcome from her cheering supporters as she entered the ring, has faced persistent online backlash following her swift victory over Italy’s Angela Carini, which lasted less than a minute.

As one of Algeria’s pioneering female boxers at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, Khelif has encountered challenges, including her disqualification from last year’s Women’s World Championships due to a gender eligibility test that reportedly showed elevated testosterone levels.

After her victory over Carini, Khelif was accused by several prominent figures of competing in the wrong gender category.

Khelif in her fight against Carini. Credit: Richard Pelham/Getty

J.K. Rowling shared a photo from the fight on X, commenting, “Could any picture sum up our new men’s rights movement better?”

She further stated that it depicted “the smirk of a male who knows he’s protected by a misogynist sporting establishment, enjoying the distress of a woman he’s just punched in the head, and whose life’s ambition he’s just shattered.”

Meanwhile, Elon Musk supported a post by swimmer Riley Gaines on X, asserting, “men don’t belong in women’s sports,” and added his agreement by saying, “Absolutely.”

However, Thomas Bach, the president of the International Olympic Committee, emphasized today during a press briefing that Khelif was born and raised as a woman, has always competed as a woman, and is officially registered as such on her passport.

Khelif progressed to the next round. Credit: Anadolu/Getty

“We will not engage in a sometimes-politically motivated cultural war,” Bach stated via Variety.

Carini, who exited the match against Khelif after stating she “never felt a punch like this,” later expressed remorse for her behavior towards the Algerian boxer immediately after their bout.

In an interview with the Italian sports outlet Gazzetta dello Sport, she expressed her desire to “apologize” for not shaking Khelif’s hand, saying: “Actually, I want to apologize to her and everyone else. I was angry because my Olympics had gone up in smoke.”

Imane Khelif. Credit: Anadolu/Getty

She added: “All this controversy makes me sad (…) I’m sorry for my opponent, too. If the IOC said she can fight, I respect that decision.”

Although Hamori appeared shaken after the three-round match, she acknowledged Khelif with a nod and a slight smile. Earlier, the Hungarian boxer commented that she “doesn’t care about the stories, what is going on social media right now. If she or he is a man, it will be a bigger victory for me if I win.”

Khelif is set to face Thailand’s Janjaem Suwannapheng in the semi-final on August 6.