Italian boxer Angela Carini has withdrawn from her Olympic bout against Algerian opponent Imane Khelif, describing the decision as a measure to “save her life.” The match, which lasted only 46 seconds, saw Carini visibly distressed and led to a dramatic response from various figures in the sports community.
Carini’s bout with Khelif, a transgender fighter who was disqualified from last year’s World Championships for failing testosterone tests related to gender qualification, has ignited controversy. The fight has now become one of the most debated in Olympic history, sparking intense reactions from prominent figures including author J.K. Rowling, Olympian Sharron Davies, and former Prime Minister Liz Truss.
In her post-fight remarks, Carini revealed that she decided to quit the match to “protect my life,” explaining, “I couldn’t continue. I had a severe pain in my nose and I said, ‘Stop.’ It’s better to avoid continuing. From the first hit, my nose started bleeding.”
Carini described the experience as potentially the match of her life but emphasized the importance of preserving her well-being. “I have fought many times with the national team. I train with my brother. I have always fought against men, but today I felt a lot of pain,” she said.
Ignoring her opponent, the Italian fighter sank to her knees and broke down in tears, admitting she had never felt such intense pain in a match before. “I’m used to suffering. I have never received such a punch; it’s impossible to continue. I am not one to say it’s illegal,” Carini said. “I entered the ring to fight, but I did not like it after the first minute. I started feeling severe pain in my nose. I didn’t give up, but a punch hurt me a lot, and so I said enough. I’m leaving with my head held high.”
Carini clarified that her departure from the ring was not a protest against her opponent’s inclusion but rather a decision that the Olympic authorities should consider. She also mentioned that her kneeling at the end of the match was a tribute to her late father, who passed away in 2021, adding, “I am sorry that I did not bring Italy to the podium.”
She has since been taken for medical evaluation to assess the seriousness of her facial injuries, which include a bruised nose.
