Paris 2024: ‘I want her to win gold’”: Billy Dib’s backflip on Imane Khelif after global backlash
Australian former world champion Billy Dib says he regrets jumping to conclusions when posting about controversial Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, declaring he now wants her to win gold in Paris.
Days after joining the global pile-on of Imane Khelif, Australian former world champion Billy Dib has retracted his criticism, issued an apology and is backing the Algerian to win gold in Paris.
Dib admits he got caught up in the outrage when he posted a video critical of Khelif’s participation at the Olympics.
That video went viral, and after receiving hundreds of comments and messages, the 38-year-old researched the issue for the first time, and realised he was in the wrong.
“Some people sent some things to me and I was infuriated to think that a man could be fighting a woman, that’s the truth,” Dib told this masthead. “I had a bit of a blast at the Olympic boxing committee, I had a go at her, and I posted it.
“The video went viral. Really viral.
“I got thousands of messages from people saying, ‘You’re wrong, she’s a female’.”
Dib posted a follow-up video admitting his mistake, later telling this masthead he now wants Khelif to win it all.
“I really hope Imane goes on to win a gold medal,” he said. “Because I’m one of those people who jumped to conclusions.
“I know there’s a lot of people who did. Everybody did.
“I want to cut her some slack and I want to apologise to her for what I said, and I hope she goes on and does well in the Olympic Games.”
Khelif is guaranteed of at least a bronze medal after scoring a one-sided win over Hungary’s Luca Anna Hammori in the quarter-finals.
The 25-year-old was bizarrely docked a point for holding in the third round, and broke down in tears after claiming a unanimous decision.
“I want to tell the entire world that I am a female, and I will remain a female,” she said after her win. “I dedicate this medal to the world, and to all the Arabs and I tell you, ‘Long live Algeria.’ ”
Khelif now fights Janjaem Suwannapheng in the semi-finals on Wednesday morning.
Dib’s backflip comes as Angela Carini offered Khelif an apology after retiring just 46 seconds into the first round of their fight in Paris.
“All this controversy makes me sad,” she told Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport.
“I’m sorry for my opponent, too. If the IOC said she can fight, I respect that decision.
“It wasn’t something I intended to do.
“Actually, I want to apologise to her and everyone else.
“I was angry because my Olympics had gone up in smoke.”
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