Olympic champion Imane Khelif has unveiled a fresh new look following her triumph at the Paris Olympics. The Algerian boxer, 26, appeared in photos with TV presenter Nassima Djaffar Bey, showing off flowing hair and makeup in a striking transformation.
The makeover came after Khelif shared a deeply reflective Instagram post marking the anniversary of her Olympic gold medal. She described going through a "difficult phase filled with challenges, silence, and waiting" since her Paris triumph.
"It was an unforgettable moment, a moment where my tears mixed with the awe of pride, a moment where my country's flag soared high, and I held my head up with the strength of a boxer and the heart of a human," Khelif wrote. "Today, on the anniversary of that triumph, I'm going through a difficult phase filled with challenges, silence, and waiting… But despite everything, the spirit that fought for gold still beats within me."
Message of resilience
The boxer continued with determination: "I still believe that every fall is a prelude to a stronger rise, and that every delay carries within it a test of faith and willpower. True strength lies not only in victory, but in perseverance against all odds."
"I am Imane Khelif -- a champion yesterday, resilient today, and determined to return tomorrow," she added. "Thank you to everyone who still believes in me… And to myself, thank you for never giving up."
Days later, Djaffar Bey shared the glamorous photos with the caption: "Always a pleasure."
Absence from boxing
Khelif has not returned to competitive boxing since winning Olympic gold and skipped a planned comeback at the Eindhoven Box Cup earlier this summer. The decision came after World Boxing, the sport's new governing body, introduced mandatory sex testing for all athletes over 18.
The new policy requires genetic PCR tests to confirm eligibility for competition. This represents a significant shift in how boxing authorities approach gender verification in the sport.
Reports suggest Khelif may compete at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics in a higher weight category, according to the Daily Mail.
Ongoing controversy
The gender eligibility debate has followed Khelif since the 2023 World Championships, when the now-defunct International Boxing Association disqualified both her and Taiwan's Lin Yu-ting over alleged test results. Despite this, the International Olympic Committee cleared both fighters for Paris, where they won gold medals.
The controversy reignited when reports of an alleged leaked medical test surfaced. Only the Daily Mail reports claims that Khelif carried XY chromosomes and had a "male karyotype" according to documents from 3 Wire Sports.
Khelif's father countered such claims at the Olympics by producing a birth certificate listing her as female. Calls for the boxer's medal to be revoked have been firmly dismissed.
IOC President Kirsty Coventry confirmed in June that no retrospective action would be taken regarding Khelif's medal. "There was overwhelming support that we should protect the female category," Coventry said.
Sources used: "PA Media", "Daily Mail", "GBNews"
Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
