Khelif has earned a significant amount of prize money.
Imane Khelif has earned some serious prize money after winning the Olympics women’s welterweight boxing final.
On Friday evening Algerian boxer Khelif defeated China’s Yang Liu by unanimous decision in the gold medal bout of the women’s 66kg boxing.
The 26-year-old made history by becoming only the second Algerian boxer to win a gold medal at the Olympic Games.
Khelif’s route to the final was overshadowed by controversy over her eligibility to fight in the women’s competition.
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Khelif was disqualified from the Women’s World Boxing Championships last year after she failed gender eligibility tests.
The International Boxing Association [IBA] did not not disclose exactly what the tests were, but IBA president Umar Kremlev claimed that she had XY chromosomes.
No evidence has ever been produced to support that claim.
The IBA does not govern Olympic boxing due to governance issues, and Khelif passed the International Olympic Committee’s own eligibility tests.
Khelif was born a female and has always identified as female.
The Algerian’s name made headlines last week after her fight with Italian Angela Carini ended after just 46 seconds, with the Italian leaving the ring in tears. The 25-year-old boxer has since faced backlash across social media after erroneous reports over her gender.
Carini has since apologised for her reaction and comments, however, Khelif continued to face an onslaught of abuse online, prompting her dad Omar Khelif to show her birth certificate on French TV to prove she was born a girl.
Despite the backlash, Khelif went on to beat Hungary’s Anna Luca Hamori and Thailand’s Janjaem Suwannapheng to earn herself a spot in the final and a guaranteed medal.
According to essentiallysports, a gold medalist boxer receives $100,000 (£78,515) prize money. Half of the prize money goes directly to the athlete, while the other half is split between the National Federation and for the coach.
Had Khelif lost the bout, she would have still received a prize of $50,000 (£39,300), $25,000 of this will go to the athlete and the other half given to the coach and the National Federation combined.
The money is awarded by the International Boxing Association (IBA), which could make things complicated for Khelif.
Simone Biles (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Simone Biles is set to leave France with four Olympic medals, having won three gold and one silver in this year’s competition, but she won’t be significantly richer for it.
Biles won gold in the Women’s Artistic Individual All-Around, Women’s Artistic Individual All-Around, and the Women’s Vault last week. She won silver in the Women’s Floor event on Monday.
According to Forbes, Americans at the Olympics will receive $37,500 for each gold medal won and $22,500 for silver, while bronze medalists will get $15,000. The superstar gymnast is due a total of $135,000 based on Team USA’s payout system, which is considerably less than the $750,000 signing bonus her husband, Jonathan Owens, got paid upon inking his last NFL contract.
It appears fans expected her to make a lot more, and they could be forgiven for harboring the notion given how lavishly American athletes get paid.
“The Olympics makes billions of dollars every four years, name a bigger scam, I’ll wait!” one fan raged.
“Do you know the Olympics pays athletes nothing?” another asked.
“The best athletes in the world! NOTHING!” another declared.
“I was just reading about Olympian salaries and it’s honestly disgusting that the Olympics don’t pay more,” someone else wrote.
I was just reading about olympians salaries and it’s honestly disgusting that the Olympics don’t pay more….. it seems like if you’re not winning medals you get no money
“It’s shameful,” another comment read.
Simone Biles Is Still Worth Millions
Despite making what many consider to be a meager sum from her exploits at the games, Simone Biles has a net worth of $25 million, per Celebritynetworth.com.
Like most Olympic athletes, Biles makes most of her money through brand endorsements and is believed to have made around $20 million between 2019 and 2021.
Forbes notes that the 27-year-old brought in $7.1 million in 2023, with $7 million coming from endorsements and the rest from gymnastics. She was the 14th highest-paid female athlete last year.
The relationship between WNBA stars Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner has become a focal point of recent discussions in women’s basketball, particularly around the Phoenix Mercury and Team USA. Reports suggest that Taurasi, a seasoned veteran, has voiced concerns about Griner’s impact on the team dynamics. The crux of the issue revolves around Griner’s off-court controversies and on-court performance, which some believe are detracting from the team’s cohesion and public image.
Diana Taurasi has reportedly expressed frustration with Brittney Griner, suggesting that her presence might be negatively affecting the team’s chemistry and fan engagement. This sentiment comes amidst a backdrop of complex team dynamics and heightened media scrutiny. Critics argue that Griner’s recent struggles, both personal and professional, have overshadowed the team’s collective efforts, potentially alienating fans and creating a distraction within the locker room.
Griner’s situation is complicated by her recent experiences, including legal issues and personal challenges, which have undoubtedly impacted her performance and public perception. Taurasi’s comments reflect a broader concern about maintaining a focused and united team, especially with the high stakes of professional and international competitions. The Mercury, a team that has long been a powerhouse in the WNBA, is now facing the challenge of balancing the need for strong leadership and supportive team culture with the realities of managing diverse personalities and experiences.
The implications of Taurasi’s stance are significant. Her call for Griner’s removal, if substantiated, could signal a major shift in the team’s composition and strategy. It also raises questions about the leadership roles within the team and how veteran players like Taurasi navigate their influence in shaping the team’s direction. Moreover, the potential fallout from such a decision could extend beyond the court, affecting the players’ relationships and the organization’s overall reputation.
This situation also highlights the broader challenges faced by professional athletes in the public eye, where personal issues can quickly become intertwined with professional responsibilities. For Griner, the scrutiny and pressure are compounded by her high-profile status and the expectations that come with it. Her ability to navigate these challenges and regain focus will be crucial in determining her future with the team.
Taurasi, known for her competitiveness and leadership, seems to be advocating for a more disciplined and focused approach, prioritizing team cohesion and performance over individual considerations. This perspective underscores the often difficult decisions teams must make to ensure long-term success and stability.The conversation surrounding Taurasi and Griner is a microcosm of the broader issues in professional sports, where the balance between personal freedom and professional expectations is constantly negotiated. As the WNBA and its teams continue to evolve, these discussions will likely shape the future of the league and its players.In conclusion, the tension between Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner reflects deeper issues within the Phoenix Mercury and the sports world at large. The outcome of this situation will be a critical test for the team, potentially setting a precedent for how such conflicts are managed in the future. As the story develops, it will be important to watch how both players and the organization respond, and what this means for the dynamics of professional basketball moving forward.
