This is the training routine of the Olympic gold medalist.

Imane Khelif, an Algerian boxer and Olympic gold medalist, rose to fame after becoming the center of a gender controversy during the Paris Olympic Games. Despite the spotlight, she triumphed, claiming welterweight gold in the competition.

Her journey to the top was anything but easy. Coming from humble beginnings, Khelif pursued her dreams with determination and resilience. As an amateur boxer, she steadily climbed the ranks, securing multiple championship titles along the way. 

In this post, we delve into the story of Imane Khelif — her rigorous training routines, her achievements, and the inspiring path that led her to success.

Full Name: Imane KhelifWeight Height Date of Birth143-154 lbs (65-70 kg)5’10” (178 cm)05/02/1999Profession Era Nationality Boxer 2010s-Till DateAlgerian 

Imane Khelif as a Child

Imane Khelif is an Algerian international boxer who was born in Ain Sidi Ali, Laghouat Province, Algeria. When she turned two months old, her parents relocated to a rural village called Biban Mesbah in the Tiaret Province, where she spent most of her childhood. 

Khelif didn’t always have it easy as a young girl. To get by, she had to sell scrap metal and bread to pay for the bus fare to get to the nearest 10 km (6-mile) gym. Her father was a welder on the desert plains. According to her father, Imane Khelif had a deep love for sports from a very young age.

She started with soccer and played professionally before switching to boxing. Her father didn’t initially agree with her decision because he thought boxing wasn’t meant for girls. Imane Khelif’s reason for boxing was to develop her combat skills against the local boys in her area.

Imane Khelif Boxing

Over the years, Imane Khelif trained hard to become a well-established boxer on the international scene. She finished seventeenth at the 2018 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships women’s lightweight event. Then, at the 2019 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championship, she dropped down to a surprising thirty-third position at the same women’s lightweight event. Natalia Shadrina knocked her out.

Imane Khelif represented her home country, Algeria, at the 2020 Summer Olympics, where she was defeated in the quarterfinals by Kellie Harrington from Ireland. Despite the unfortunate loss, she could take pride in the fact that she was the first female boxer to represent her country at the Olympics.

Finally, in March 2021, at the International Boxing Tournament in Istanbul, she defeated Anastasia Belyakova in the final of the women’s lightweight event. Her sheer consistency spanned throughout the years as she competed at the highest levels in boxing. In February 2022, she won the gold trophy at the Strandja Memorial Tournament. At this event, she beat Nataliya Sychugova in the final of the women’s 63 kg event. 

Khelif was also the flagbearer at the 2022 IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships. At that event, she became the first Algerian woman to get to the final. Unfortunately, Amy Broadhurst defeated her, and she fell short in second place. However, later that year, Khelif won gold in both the African Amateur Boxing Championships and Mediterranean Games.

Imane Khelif Chromosomes Controversy

In the first quarter of 2023, Imane Khelif competed at the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships. There was a controversy, and the Russian-led International Boxing Association disqualified her amid allegations of failed unspecified eligibility tests‌. This disqualification happened just three days after she beat Azalia Amineva. However, the Algerian Olympic Committee said they disqualified her for medical reasons.

It was an interesting 2023 for Imane Khelif. The president of the Russian-led International Boxing Association stated that the disqualifications were because DNA tests showed her having XY chromosomes. Khelif replied that it was a big conspiracy to prevent her from boxing in her category. She went ahead to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport but was denied because she couldn’t pay procedural fees.

Four months after her disqualification, she represented Algeria at the Arab Games and won a gold medal in the women’s welterweight event. Then, later in 2023, she announced she was turning pro. In 2024, Khelif became a UNICEF national ambassador. She then went on to win the World Boxing Cup in the women’s 66 kg event. 

In the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, the International Olympic Committee confirmed that Khelif was eligible to compete. This caused a stir and a fight, with Boxer Angela Carini being stopped after 46 seconds when Carini called for an end to the battle. Eventually, Imane Khelif won gold in her category at the Olympics.

Imane Khelif’s Training

Imane Khelif’s training is tailored to her boxing profession and competition plans. So it majorly focuses on cardio and HIIT routines. Boxing training involves punching, footwork, and evasion techniques, and this type of training boosts total body strength. (1) The cardio they do also helps maintain conditioning and heart health, too, and this kind of training is why boxers have good aerobic capacity and a reduced risk of heart disease. (2) 

Khelif has revealed plans to switch to a heavier weight class in the 2028 Olympics. This change will mean competing at 70 kg, up from 66 kg, where she won gold last year. Imane Khelif also plans to transition to professional boxing. Below is a list of the routines she uses to keep on top of her game. 

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References

Dunn, E. C., Humberstone, C. E., Franchini, E., Iredale, F. K., & Blazevich, A. J. (2022). The effect of fatiguing lower-body exercise on punch forces in highly-trained boxers. European journal of sport science, 22(7), 964–972. https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2021.1916085 

Bruzas, V., Stasiulis, A., Cepulenas, A., Mockus, P., Statkeviciene, B., & Subacius, V. (2014). Aerobic capacity is correlated with the ranking of boxers. Perceptual and motor skills, 119(1), 50–58. https://doi.org/10.2466/30.29.PMS.119c12z9