Italian boxer Angela Carini’s Olympic dream was shattered in a controversial boxing match against Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, who had previously failed chromosome sex tests but was still allowed to compete.
Background and Achievements
Angela Carini is a 25-year-old boxer from Naples, Italy, who has had an overall successful career, representing Italy at the Tokyo Olympics and making it to the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Personal Motivation
Carini’s passion for boxing was deeply influenced by her father, Giuseppe, whose death in 2021 fueled her determination to honor his memory through her sport.
Always With Angela
Carini’s Olympic dream is driven by a promise to honor her late father, who said, “Angelina, a champion in boxing is a bit like in cycling. They see the last kilometre and you know what they do? They pedal even harder. So, go all the way, because I’ll always be with you.”
Devastating Fight
However, in a mere 46 seconds, these dreams were shattered when Carini’s most recent fight ended due to the intense pain inflicted by Imane Khelif’s punches.
Controversial History
This is not the first time Imane Khelif from Algeria has faced controversy due to her gender eligibility, as she was also disqualified from the 2023 World Boxing Championships for failing sex tests, which revealed male chromosomes.
Olympic Participation
Despite her previous disqualification, Khelif was allowed to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), sparking significant debates about gender fairness and athlete safety in women’s sports.
She Said Enough
After fighting Khelif, Carini said, “I felt a severe pain in my nose, and with the maturity of a boxer, I said ‘enough,’ because I didn’t want to, I didn’t want to, I couldn’t finish the match.”
Never Been Hit so Hard
Carini lamented after the fight, “I have never been hit so hard in my life.” and, “It’s up to the IOC to judge,” highlighting the dangerous disparity in strength.
IOC’s Controversial Decision
Unsurprisingly, the IOC’s decision to allow Khelif to compete has been widely criticized, especially given her previous disqualifications for failing sex tests.
Complying With Eligibility
The IOC spokesperson Mark Adams defended the decision by stating, “Everyone competing in the women’s category is complying with the competition eligibility rules.”
Emotional Aftermath
Post-fight, Carini expressed her heartbreak and determination to honor her father, stating, “For me, if you go in the ring, you have already won, regardless of everything else.”
Not Here to Judge
Carini concluded the statement by saying, “I’m not here to judge. I just did my job. I managed to leave with my head held high.”
The IBA’s Take
The International Boxing Association (IBA) has already criticized the IOC’s regulations for what they believe creates an unfair playing field for their athletes.
Raising Serious Questions
The IBA states, “The IOC’s differing regulations on these matters, in which IBA is not involved, raise serious questions about both competitive fairness and athletes’ safety.”
Here for Gold
Despite the controversy, Imane Khelif remains focused on her goal, telling BBC, “I am here for gold. I will fight anybody, I will fight them all.”
The First Time in History
At the same time, this is the first time the Olympics has reached gender equality with the typical binary, having an equal number of male and female athletes for the first time in history.
The Role of the IOC
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is behind this development and was quick to highlight the achievement to the public.
IOC Statement
“The Olympic Games Paris 2024 will be the first gender-balanced Olympic Games with exactly 50% male and 50% female athletes,” stated the IOC in their official announcement. “This is a major milestone in the Olympic movement.”
Broader Movement
This milestone seems to be part of a broader movement towards gender equality in sports, addressing issues such as equal pay, representation, and support.
The Larger fight
Minky Worden, Director of Global Initiatives at Human Rights Watch, commented, “The move towards gender equality at the Olympics is a positive step, but it’s part of a larger fight for equality in all sports.”
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