I love stories about human beings. Since everywhere I read only things about disqualifications and chromosomes, let me say a couple of words about the case of Imane Khelif. She was born in Tiaret and plays football, considered unsuitable for girls. Boys sometimes beat her up, and at 16, she develops a passion for boxing. But it’s not simple. The gym is 10 km away, her father is a welder in the Sahara and doesn’t agree with his daughter practicing a "man's sport". The family struggles to find money for the bus that takes her to the gym, so to raise funds, Imane sells pieces of metal and her mother sells couscous. After 3 years, at 19, Imane ranks 17th at the world championships; at 18, she is 33rd at the world level. At the Tokyo Olympics, she is eliminated in the quarter-finals fairly decisively. In 2022, she loses the final for the IBA World Title to the Irish Broadhurst, where they let her fight, unlike the year after, when the same IBA federation excludes her due to the well-known issue related to her sexual characteristics, without formally clarifying the reasons for privacy reasons. In 2022, she wins the Mediterranean Games and the African amateur championship, and in 2023, she wins the Arab Games. 51 matches, 42 won, 9 lost. In 2024, the IOC admits her to the Olympics, considering that she meets the eligibility criteria. "I started with nothing and now I have everything," Imane says in an interview with UNICEF. "Both my parents come to support me. They are my biggest fans." Imane has been active on the issue of overweight, which is significant in Algeria (22% overall, 12% among children, placing the country among the worst 20 in the world). "Many parents are unaware of the benefits of sports and how it can improve not only physical fitness but also mental well-being." For her story and her interest in sports for children, UNICEF chose her as its ambassador. "I am deeply honored to be an ambassador for UNICEF. My message to young people is to follow their dreams. Don’t let obstacles get in your way; resist any obstacle and overcome them. My dream is to win a gold medal. If I win, mothers and fathers can see how far their children can go. I want to inspire girls and kids who are disadvantaged in Algeria." Defending Khelif against accusations regarding her sexuality, in a strange, unpredictable short-circuit, has been the very Olympic committee of Algeria (where homosexual acts can lead to up to 2 years of imprisonment) which has labeled the accusations "against our champion" as unethical attacks and unfounded propaganda. If she wins an Olympic gold, it would be the first in Algeria's history. Regardless of how it goes, and despite everything, Khelif has (re)positioned Algeria on the sports map.

02.08.2024 signed: Riccardo Cazzaniga (writer)