Republicans criticise the Olympics for allowing a “biological male” to beat up an Italian athlete, calling the competition “dangerous” and “immoral”.
The outrage arose following a 46-second Olympic boxing match between Italian boxer Angela Carini and her Algerian opponent Imane Khelif, who is considered “biologically male.”
Khelif, who had been banned from a major boxing match before the Olympics due to gender-related issues, savagely rocked Carini with two punches early in the fight.
These devastating blows led Carini to shout “This is unfair” before falling to the canvas and crying over her crushed Olympic dreams.
The brutal display infuriated members of the Republican Party, prompting an immediate outcry from the right, which has long advocated for gender separation when competing in sports.
Now, Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., is trying to crowdfund the $196,000 gold cash prize that Carini was deprived of, and it has already reached nearly $20,000.
Imane Khelif of Algeria (in red) during the Women’s 66kg preliminary round match against Angela Carini of Italy (in blue) on day six of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the North Paris Arena on August 1, 2024 in Paris, France.
“Angela Carini, the Olympic boxer from Italy who was defeated in 45 seconds by a biological male, deserves better,” Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., posted on X after the fight went viral.
In her post, Boebert mentioned how she started a fundraiser “with the goal of raising what Angela would have earned with a gold medal” and hoped her followers would “consider contributing.”
Italy is reportedly paying Olympic gold medalists around $196,000 each.
After the fight, Carini said the savage force of the punches made it “impossible to continue” in an emotional post-match interview.
“The Olympics are giving out gold medals for assaulting women,” Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., posted on X after the game.
“Anyone with at least one good eye and common sense can see that this was not a fair fight,” Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, who wears an eye patch due to his missing eye, posted wryly on X.
“Angelia Carini dedicated her life to boxing and the possibility of Olympic glory. Forcing her to fight a competitor with inherent biological advantages was dangerous and immoral,” the one-eyed congressman continued.
Representatives Nancy Mace (left) and Lauren Boebert (right) criticized the Olympics for allowing wrestling to go ahead.
Khelif landed two devastating blows on Carini before the Italian gave up.
Carini fell to the ground and sobbed after calling off the fight.
Khelif was apparently emotionless after winning the fight.
Italy’s Angela Carini gets emotional after her loss in the women’s 66kg preliminary round match against Algeria’s Imane Khelif
Former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley posted on X: ‘It’s a disgrace that the IOC allowed a man to participate in women’s boxing and punch a woman in the face on the Olympic stage.’
“These athletes give everything they have to be the best. Watching a man destroy their dreams is sickening.”
“Give them justice, remove Imane Khelif from the competition immediately,” she continued her post.
Republicans’ anger mirrors outrage expressed over transgender swimmer Lia Thomas’ 2022 NCAA national swimming championship.
That saga sparked a wave of legislation to protect women’s sports, including the introduction of laws to ban biological males from competing against biological females.
Differences in sexual development (DSD) have become a central point of controversy at this year’s Olympics after Khelif, the “biological male”, beat Carini.
Khelif had been banned from a previous women’s tournament after failing a “gender assessment” but was controversially given the green light to compete at this year’s games.
Khelif has yet to comment on the matter, but speculation is rife that he has DSD, a rare condition that only affects between 0.05 and 1 percent of the population.
The judge raises Khelif’s arm, signifying his victory over Carini.
Khelif is said to have “intersex” conditions, which leads to her having a different developmental process than average women.
DSDs, also called “intersex” disorders, can result in apparently female individuals having male chromosomes or anatomy.
‘A real woman, Angela Carini, who trained for years to box in the Olympics, is ‘defeated’ by a real man posing as a woman,’ Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., posted on X.
“He is a fraud, a fraud, and a liar. Shame on ALL who allow men to compete against women. Democrats support this.”