2024 was a wild year for boxing. Anthony Joshua delivered a devastating knockout against former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in March but was later brutally knocked out by Daniel Dubois in an IBF championship fight in September. Tyson Fury lost to Oleksandr Usyk, who became the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the 21st century. Artur Beterbiev captured the undisputed light heavyweight championship, and Seniesa Estrada also captured the undisputed minimumweight championship before retiring.

Furthermore, Jake Paul somehow convinced legendary Mike Tyson to return to the ring after 19 years for a snooze fest of a fight. On the same card, Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano produced a spectacular slugfest. However, none came close to the popularity of the Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, who became the most searched athlete of the year, leaving behind everyone else.

Imane Khelif proudly rules Google

On Wednesday, Google announced the top 10 most searched athletes of the year. Surprisingly, 2024 Paris Olympics gold medalist Imane Khelif led the charge, leaving behind the likes of Mike Tyson and Jake Paul, who ranked 2nd and 5th respectively. Khelif capturing the gold medal was a historic moment on a personal front, as well as for both Algeria and the Arab world. However, tragically, the controversy surrounding her journey in the Summer Games overshadowed her victory to some extent.

In 2023, the IBA disqualified Khelif from the Women’s World Championships, citing criteria regarding gender categories. However, the IOC adhered to its own guidelines and allowed her to participate in the women’s category while declining to recognize the IBA’s findings as legitimate.

However, things once again picked up heat when Italian boxer Angela Carini lost her fight against Imane Khelif in just 46 seconds of the first round. The match ended abruptly after Carini received two heavy blows from the Algerian and fell to the ground.

What followed soon was a whirlwind of hate and accusations with many claiming that Khelif was in fact a biological male. This resulted in the Tiaret native receiving unjust scrutiny and online abuse throughout the length of the event. However, she maintained her calm and showed extraordinary resilience while advocating against bullying. Nevertheless, she competed against China’s Yang Liu in the finals and won. Imane Khelif made history at the iconic Roland Garros venue to engrave her name in Olympic boxing history.

Her historic feat saw her beat Mike Tyson and Jake Paul to become the most popular athlete of 2024 on Google. However, these two were not the only ones to bow down to Khelif’s unyielding popularity. Let’s take a look at the list to see who else she left behind.

A list full of surprises

While Imane Khelif and Mike Tyson took the first two spots, the third position was also a surprise. FC Barcelona’s prodigal talent Lamine Yamal took over the footballing world in the blink after his sensational performance leading Spain to Euro 2024 glory.

Simone Biles continued to dominate the Olympic season and inspired countless people with her advocacy for mental health and athlete rights to capture the fourth position. Jake Paul was fifth as his rivalry against Mike Tyson captured the worldwide audience’s attention and gave boxing a much-needed push.

Lamine Yamal’s countryman, Nico Williams, seized the sixth position for his sensational performances in Euro 2024. He was also in the news regarding his controversial transfer saga to FC Barcelona, which ultimately fell apart in the end.

Indian cricket star Hardik Pandya saw one of the craziest sporting arcs in 2024. He was at his lowest during the IPL 2024. However, he got his redemption after performing sensationally well during the T20 World Cup a month later and became an overnight star. Scottie Scheffler, who dominated the PGA tour in 2024, followed Pandya.

The ninth place belonged to Shashank Singh, another cricketer who captured the fancy of fans during IPL 2024. Rodri, who made headlines for securing the Balon D’or, secured the 10th and final place after a consistent season.

Imane Khelif’s career is far from over, as she recently made her successful boxing debut against Suwanun Antanai, and UNICEF appointed her Algeria’s UNICEF brand ambassador. It has been a remarkable year for the boxer who earns the position of being the most popular athlete of the year.

What do you think about Imane Khelif securing the top spot in the most searched athletes list? Who was the most surprising inclusion on the list for you?