Olympic Boxer Wants to Apologize After Walkout

Summary: Italian Olympic boxer Angela Carini wants to apologize to her opponent, Imane Khelif, after walking out of their fight at Paris 2024 just 46 seconds in. Carini felt she couldn’t continue and regrets not shaking hands with Khelif.

Details: Carini faced Algeria’s Imane Khelif in a welterweight bout at the Olympics. After a few punches, Carini left the ring, saying she “couldn’t fight anymore.” Khelif had previously been disqualified from the 2023 boxing world championships due to elevated testosterone levels but was cleared to compete by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). “Everyone competing in the women’s category is complying with the competition eligibility rules,” said IOC spokesperson Mark Adams.

Conclusion: Carini expressed regret over her actions and stated, “Actually, I want to apologize to her and everyone else. I was angry because my Olympics had gone up in smoke.” She added that if she meets Khelif again, she would “embrace her.”

Quotes:

• “I didn’t succeed because I simply couldn’t fight anymore.”
• “If the IOC said she can fight, I respect that decision.”
• “It could have been the match of a lifetime, but I had to preserve my life as well in that moment.”