Algerian Olympic gold medalist Imane Khelif makes high-fashion debut at Milan Fashion Week

At Milan Fashion Week, Algerian Olympic boxing gold medalist, Imane Khelif, made her high-fashion debut during Bottega Veneta’s spring 2025 showcase.

Khelif, the 25-year-old boxer who won gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics, donned a striking mustard yellow leather “shacket” from Bottega’s fall 2024 collection, paired with sleek black leather trousers.

The look was complemented by a set of the brand’s viral drop earrings appropriately in gold, paying homage to Khelif’s status as a gold-medalist champion.

Khelif made headlines earlier in the year, not only for her stunning victory but also for the controversy that clouded her Olympic journey.

During a heated 46-second match in Paris, Italy’s Angela Carini refused to shake Khelif’s hand, labeling the bout "unfair" before later apologizing.

This incident followed a 2023 International Boxing Association (IBA) ruling that had previously disqualified Khelif from the world boxing championships, citing so-called "competitive advantages."

The decision unleashed a wave of misogynist and racist vitriol against her, casting a shadow over her Olympic journey.

However, Khelif remained resilient, stating post-match, “I am fully qualified. I’m a woman like any other woman. I was born a woman, I lived a woman, I competed as a woman—there’s no question about that.”