{"id":419370,"date":"2025-09-12T20:54:15","date_gmt":"2025-09-12T20:54:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/419370\/"},"modified":"2025-09-12T20:54:15","modified_gmt":"2025-09-12T20:54:15","slug":"italian-boxer-speaks-out-over-online-abuse-since-olympic-bout-against-khelif","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/419370\/","title":{"rendered":"Italian boxer speaks out over online abuse since Olympic bout against Khelif"},"content":{"rendered":"

NAPLES, Italy (AP) \u2014 Italian boxer Angela Carini<\/a> says the online abuse she\u2019s received since her Olympic fight against Imane Khelif last year has \u201cdestroyed her career.\u201d<\/p>\n

Carini tearfully quit<\/a> her opening bout with Khelif of Algeria at the Paris Olympics after just 46 seconds, going on to explain afterward that she took the extremely unusual decision because of the pain from her opponent\u2019s opening punches.<\/p>\n

On Friday, Carini published a video on Instagram<\/a> with screenshots of messages she has received on social media \u2014 some begging her not to go to the Olympics again, others calling her \u201ca coward\u201d and \u201cthe shame of the Italy team\u201d \u2014 and a voiceover of the 26-year-old explaining how she felt.<\/p>\n

\u201cHave you ever wondered how hard it was for me to face these words? What I had to endure and endure day after day? What I had to face in my silence, while preserving my health from a stupid social network, from people who speak and say words without thinking twice?\u201d Carini said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause for them it\u2019s just a sentence, it\u2019s just a word, it\u2019s just fun, it\u2019s just wanting to follow the crowd.\u201d<\/p>\n

Khelif won the Olympic gold<\/a> amid international scrutiny on her and Taiwan\u2019s Lin Yu-ting, another gold medal winner. <\/p>\n

Both fighters were allowed to compete by the IOC after being disqualified from the 2023 world championships by the Russian-dominated International Boxing Association. The IBA claimed the women failed unspecified eligibility tests.<\/p>\n

However, the IOC applied sex eligibility rules used in previous Olympics and said Khelif and Lin passed.<\/p>\n

\u2018An infected wound\u2019<\/p>\n

Carini\u2019s actions fueled a discussion far beyond Paris about whether Khelif should have been allowed to compete, with (then former) U.S. President Donald Trump and Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni speaking out.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor many it is easy to forget the past, but for me it wasn\u2019t,\u201d Carini continued. \u201cThat past that marked my life. That past that left wounds inside me that I try to heal day after day, but like an infected wound, it bleeds and hurts.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat past that changed and destroyed my career, built year after year with sacrifices, dedication, tenacity and a lot of passion \u2026 That career that is underestimated and belittled by those who preferred to have a laugh for a few moments, preferred to throw the stone.\u201d<\/p>\n

Carini won silver medals at the world and European championships in 2019. She lost her opening fight at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.<\/p>\n

After Paris, Carini said she closed herself \u201cin silence\u201d with her family and \u201ctried to rebuild (herself) in small pieces.\u201d<\/p>\n

Carini returned to the ring in December, winning her eighth Italian title and gold at the World Boxing Cup in Poland.<\/p>\n

\u201cPutting all the disappointment aside, I got back into that ring, reconfirming myself as Italian champion and bringing home medals from important international tournaments,\u201d Carini said. \u201cGetting back into that ring was a tough challenge.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese words of mine will not change the world, I will not make people become kinder. But at least I invite everyone to reflect \u2026 A word, a gesture, a command can hurt and destroy a person.\u201d<\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

AP boxing: https:\/\/apnews.com\/boxing<\/a><\/p>\n