Algerian boxer Imane Khelif became an unlikely face of these Olympic Games when she was subjected to online abuse after Italian boxer Angela Carini quit their bout in 46 seconds. Khelif went on to win the women’s 66kg welterweight gold medal a week later.

Some spectators watching her bout against Carini later raised questions about Khelif’s participation, citing a 2023 decision by a now-discredited boxing regulator to bar her from a women’s tournament.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC), however, strongly supported her participation in the 2024 Games, with IOC spokesperson Mark Adams saying she was “born female, was registered female, lived her life as a female, boxed as a female, has a female passport.”

The fight became a flashpoint for an often misinformed debate about how women are allowed to compete in sports. It also triggered an onslaught of online abuse, with transphobic commentators incorrectly calling Khelif “a man” because of an alleged physical advantage.

With the eyes of the world on her, Khelif progressed through the competition, received huge amounts of support from the crowds watching her fight and eventually won a gold medal.

“I’m very happy. For eight years, this has been my dream and I’m now the Olympic champion and gold medalist,” she said after the fight. “I’ve worked for eight years, no sleep, eight years tired.”

After Khelif won her gold medal, her lawyer Nabil Boudi said on Saturday that she has filed a legal complaint with the Paris prosecutors saying she suffered “aggravated online harassment.”

“Imane Khelif decided to lead a new fight: one of justice, dignity and honor,” her lawyer Nabil Boudi said.

“The inquiry will determine who started this misogynistic, racist and sexist campaign but will also look at those who fed this online lynching,” he added.

You can read more about Khelif here.