LONDON — Algerian boxer Imane Khelif says that President Trump’s stance on gender in sports “does not intimidate” her and plans to defend her gold medal at the Los Angeles Olympics.
Khelif, who found herself in the middle of a bitter divide about gender eligibility during the Paris Olympics, was asked about Trump’s policies during an interview with British broadcaster ITV.
“I will give you a straightforward answer: the U.S. president issued a decision related to transgender policies in America. I am not transgender. This does not concern me, and it does not intimidate me. That is my response,” Khelif said.
Khelif then interrupted a question about her dream of repeating gold at the next Summer Games in 2028: “Second gold medal, of course,” she said. “In America, Los Angeles.”
Last month, Trump signed an executive order intended to ban transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports.
The president has repeatedly labeled Khelif and fellow female boxing gold medalist Lin Yu-ting as men, even though the International Olympic Committee has consistently defended both boxers.
“These two women boxers have been born as women … and nobody ever claimed even that they are transgender,” IOC President Thomas Bach said in a recent interview.
Both had been disqualified from the 2023 world championships run by the Russian-backed International Boxing Association, which said they failed eligibility tests.
Khelif advanced through the Olympic Games amid international scrutiny and speculation about her sex.
“I see myself as a girl … and have lived my entire life as one,” Khelif told ITV. “I have competed in many tournaments, including the Tokyo Olympics and other major competitions, as well as four World Championships. All of these took place before I started winning and earning titles. But once I began achieving success, the campaigns against me started.”
Please read our comment policy before commenting.