Olympics boxer Imane Khelif reveals she once sold bread on streets for a living, was discouraged from ‘men’s sport’
gender debate). However, once boxer extraordinaire Imane Khelif was living at the fringes of the society, selling bread on the streets.
Khelif, who sparked global outrage when she overpowered her opponent in 46 seconds, as well as an invasive discourse on her gender identity recently talked about having a rough childhood.
In an interview with the Algerian TV channel Canal Algerie, the boxer said that she faced many hurdles early in her career, as many of her family members were opposed to her pursuing this profession. “I come from a conservative region and family. Boxing was a sport dedicated only to men,” she told the channel.
She told of how she underwent financial hardships and had to sell bread on the streets. " I collected dishes and other objects to earn money. These are obstacles that I encountered when I started. I happened to sell bread in the street, I collected dishes and other objects to earn money and to be able to move around because I came from a very poor family,” she revealed.
The Algerian athlete shared that her coach in school recognized her physical abilities, which inspired her to pursue boxing.
When the interviewer inquired why she entered a sport often seen as predominantly male, Khelif responded, «It was purely by chance. I never dreamed I would become a boxer, let alone a world champion.
»I always had a passion for football and played it in my small village. My father preferred football over boxing. However, my physical skills were evident in school, and my teacher encouraged me to
