Imane Khelif's Olympic gold inspires Algerian girls to take up boxing

In weeks since Algeria's Imane Khelif won an Olympic gold medal in women's boxing, athletes and coaches in North African nation say national enthusiasm is inspiring newfound interest in sport, particularly among women.

Khelif's image is practically everywhere, featured in vertisements at airports, on highway billboards and in boxing gyms. 25-year-old welterweight's success in Paris has vaulted her to national hero status, especially after Algerians rallied behind her in face of uninformed speculation about her gender and eligibility to compete.

Amateur boxer Zougar Amina, a medical student who's been practicing for a year, called Khelif an idol and role model.

“Since I’ve been boxing, my personality has changed: I’m more confident, less stressed," she said, describing sport as “rapy to fight shyness, to learn to defend myself, to gain self-confidence.”

In Ain Taya, seaside town east of Algiers where Amina boxes, what local media have termed “Khelifmania” is on full display.

Behind a door wallpapered with a large photograph of gold medalist, punching bags hang from ceiling of local gym, and young girls warm up near a boxing ring surrounded by shelves of masks, gloves and mouth guards.

23 young women and girls who train at gym — an old converted church — all dream of becoming next Khelif, ir coach Malika Abassi said.

Abassi said women imitate Khelif's post-win celebrations, hopping around boxing ring and saluting fans. She's worried that interest in boxing will grow so rapidly that her gym won't be able to handle it.

“We’re getting calls from parents wanting to sign up ir daughters," she said. "I’m only coach and our gym is small.”

Algerians from all walks of life flocked to squares in country's major cities to watch Khelif's matches brocast on projectors. Khelif's story endeared her to majority of conservative country's population, although a few prominent imams and Islamist politicians have criticized example she sets by wearing her boxing uniform and not a hescarf.

Still, Amina Abassi, anor amateur boxer at same gym unrelated to her coach, said she believes deep well of support for Khelif will overwhelm any criticism.

“I’m convinced that even conservative families will allow ir daughters to take up boxing,” she said. “Imane has broken through wall of false modesty and hypocrisy.”

Noureddine Bouteldja, a former amateur boxer and sports journalist, said Khelif has transcended boxing and become a “social phenomenon” throughout Algeria thanks to her personal story and scrutiny she faced from famous people around world who — unlike Algerians — saw her vancing in Olympics as part of culture war over sex, gender and sport.

Algerians rallied behind Khelif in face of criticism from Donald Trump, Elon Musk, J.K. Rowling and ors who falsely claimed she was transgender. y largely interpreted attacks on her as attacks on ir nation itself. And unlike much of international community that coalesced behind Khelif, on social media most couldn't register thought of a transgender athlete from Algeria.

“It’s victory of a woman who has shown extraordinary resilience and phenomenal strength of character in face of campaign to denigrate her gender," Bouteldja said.

Boxing coaches and ministrators said Khelif's rise from a poor child in rural central Algeria to worldwide fame has me her an inspirational figure. Mour Meziane, he of Algerian Boxing League, expects a huge spike in registration among young women at start of this school year in mid September.

Algeria currently has 30 regional boxing leagues and 10,000 athletes participating nationwide, he said.

“ impact is inevitable and will only be very positive for women’s boxing in Algeria," Meziane said.

Civil society figures and activists said impact is also sure to reverberate far beyond boxing ring.

Attorney Aouicha Bakhti said Khelif’s story will have a lasting impact on Algerian culture and be a counterweight to strands of society that discourage women's participation in sports.

“This kind of epic helps society, ours in this case, which is in process of retreating in face of fundamentalist ideals,” said Bakhti, a prominent feminist and political activist.