Caitlin Clark took home the title of AP’s Female Athlete of the Year without much competition, but the real shocker was the athlete who came in third place – Olympic gold medalist boxer Imane Khelif.
A Divided Voting Pool
A group of 74 sports journalists from The Associated Press and its members cast their votes, with Clark receiving 35 votes and Olympic gymnast Simone Biles coming in second with 25.
But it was Imane Khelif who sparked controversy, getting four votes despite being at the center of a heated debate over the summer.
The Gender Eligibility Issue
Khelif qualified for the Paris Olympics, but was disqualified from the 2023 championships due to gender eligibility issues. IBA President Umar Kremlev stated that the boxer had “XY chromosomes,” which are associated with biological males. This led to one boxer, Angela Carini, forfeiting her bout against Khelif, claiming that “one punch hurt too much.”
The IOC Weighs In
Despite the controversy, Khelif went on to win gold in Paris, along with Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting, who won gold in another women’s weight class. The International Olympics Committee (IOC) defended Khelif and Yu-ting’s inclusion in the women’s events, calling them “victims of a sudden and arbitrary decision by the IBA.”
A Dominant Performance
Khelif didn’t lose a single round on any scoreboards in Paris, and later won gold. After Carini won her eighth women’s Italian title earlier this month, she claimed the victory was her “revenge.” Khelif became the most Googled athlete of the year, largely due to the controversy surrounding her.
What do you think about the controversy surrounding Imane Khelif’s AP Female Athlete of the Year votes? Share your thoughts in the comments!