Angela Carini came to the Paris Olympics with the goal of winning a medal in honor of her late father and coach, who had passed away shortly after she competed in the Tokyo Games three years ago. However, her time in the ring was cut short, lasting only 46 seconds, when she withdrew from her bout against Algerian opponent Imane Khelif due to a spot of blood on her trunks. Although Carini clarified that her decision was not a political statement regarding Khelif, who had been disqualified from last year’s world championships for failing a gender eligibility test, her withdrawal reignited the discussion about Khelif’s status.
Angela Carini: Italian Boxer and Olympian
Angela Carini, a 25-year-old Italian boxer, competes in the welterweight division (66 kilograms or 145.5 pounds). She earned silver medals at the world and European championships in 2019 and previously won gold at the European youth championships. Despite her successes, she faced an early exit at the Tokyo Olympics. Known by the nickname “Tiger,” which was affectionately given to her by her late father Giuseppe, Carini has built a strong reputation in the boxing world for her skill and determination. Her father’s influence and support have been significant in her journey as a boxer.
Angela Carini's Background
Angela Carini initially excelled as an Italian champion in clay pigeon shooting before transitioning to boxing, inspired by her brother who made the same switch. She credits her brother and late father for teaching her the sport, stating, “I owe everything to them.”
Angela Carini's Fight Against Imane Khelif
In her fight against Imane Khelif, Angela Carini exchanged a few quick punches before unexpectedly quitting the match, a very unusual move in Olympic boxing. She didn’t shake Khelif’s hand after the referee declared Khelif the winner and instead sank to her knees and cried in the ring.
Carini’s actions sparked a broader debate about whether Khelif should have been allowed to compete after failing a gender eligibility test by the now-banned International Boxing Association. Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni even discussed the issue with IOC president Thomas Bach.
The IOC has defended Khelif’s right to compete, stating that Khelif meets the necessary criteria for participation. The president of the Italian Olympic Committee, Giovanni Malagò, expressed concerns about safety and fairness but acknowledged the IOC’s confirmation of Khelif’s eligibility.
Why did she quit?
After the fight, a tearful Angela Carini explained that she quit because of the pain from Imane Khelif’s strong punches, which caused her nose to bleed.
“My face and nose hurt,” Carini said to Gazzetta dello Sport. “I couldn’t breathe anymore. I saw my brother in the stands and decided to stop. I’ve never been hit so hard.”
Carini insisted it wasn’t a planned decision and felt sad about the controversy.
“I’m sorry for my opponent,” she said. “If the IOC says she can fight, I respect that.”
Carini apologized for not shaking Khelif’s hand, saying it wasn’t intentional. She was just upset about her Olympics ending. She added that she has nothing against Khelif and would embrace her if they met again.
2 thoughts on “Angela Carini: Italian Boxer Who Quit Her Fight Against Imane Khelif”