The Paris Olympics 2024 saw a major controversy surrounding Algerian boxer Imane Khelif. Her impressive win against Italian boxer Angelina Carini in the women’s 66 kg boxing category was overshadowed by concerns over elevated testosterone levels. Khelif responded, “I am a woman like any woman. I was born a woman, and I have lived as a woman, but there are enemies to success, and they can’t digest my success.” Sadly, her statement barely made a ripple.

Despite this, her fallout has set the stage for the 2024 Paralympics, which will take place from August 28 to September 8. This year’s Games promise a historic shift, featuring record-breaking queer athletes showcasing their talents. The growing participation of queer and para-athletes underscores a move towards greater inclusivity and resilience. Although past Paralympic controversies still echo, the increased diversity in this year’s events could ignite significant social change.

Record-breaking LGBTQ athletes to compete in the 2024 Paris Paralympics 

As revealed by Outsports on August 27, 2024, at least 38 publicly out athletes will compete in the Paris Summer Paralympics. This increase from 32 to 38 athletes within five hours underscores growing visibility in the Games. Following the controversy surrounding Imane Khelif’s Paris Olympics performance, which affected the broader Olympics community, including the Paralympics, this year’s event is set to highlight the resilience and determination of queer and para-athletes.

Although similar controversies have surfaced in the past—such as the 2012 ‘stigma of being invisible’ faced by an LGBTQ para athlete—the upcoming Games promise to showcase unprecedented inclusivity and social change, echoing the medal-winning successes of 2016’s Rio Paralympics.  The graph skyrocketed to 36 queer athletes in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Another record was created this year, as the number of LGBTQ athletes in the Paris Paralympics surpassed 36 and made it 38.

However, there were also some inequality issues in the Paralympics. Mar Gunnarsson, an Icelandic swimmer, is an example of the rising number of athletes who are openly coming out. He revealed this after last year’s Tokyo Paralympics. He said at the time, “The news went viral here and the amount of support I felt from the Icelandic nation was amazing.” Meanwhile, Hailey Danz, an American para-athlete, has had difficulty coming out, but later decided to overcome her fear and speak out. “For a long time, I didn’t feel pride in being gay,” she wrote in an essay for Team USA in 2022.

Para judoka Alana Maldonado of Brazil has spoken out against gender inequality in sports. She is raising awareness about gender prejudice, sharing with Historica that despite her achievements, she feels her Paralympic medal does not carry the same weight as an Olympic medal. Maldonado emphasized that female Paralympic athletes are proving their strength and fighting for the recognition they deserve.

Australian wheelchair sprinter Robyn Lambird clarified the Paralympic classification system, explaining that each sport employs its own system to ensure fair competition based on the impact of impairments. The Games will feature 4,400 athletes, including a record 1,983 women, competing in 22 sports and 549 medal events. As star performers share their insights, Imane Khelif’s rise sets new benchmarks for the 2024 Paralympics.

Imane Khelif’s rise: Setting new benchmarks for the 2024 Paralympics

Following the fanless events of Tokyo 2021 due to COVID-19 and the financial struggles of Rio 2016, Paris faces high expectations from the Paralympics. Nearly two million tickets have been sold, and organizers consider this only “half-time” after the successful Paris Olympics. Andrew Parsons, president of the International Paralympic Committee, confidently stated, “These will be the most spectacular Paralympic Games ever, and I believe it in my heart.” This marks France’s first time hosting the Summer Paralympics.

Meanwhile, Algerian boxer Imane Khelif faced controversy following her victory over Italy’s Angela Carini at the 2024 Olympics. Erroneous information about her gender spread after she was disqualified from the 2023 World Boxing Championships by the Russian-run International Boxing Association (IBA) due to alleged high testosterone levels.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) affirmed Imane Khelif’s eligibility, condemning the IBA’s decision as “sudden and arbitrary.” Born female, Khelif has no published medical evidence suggesting otherwise. Her journey includes representing Algeria at both the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics. Despite early setbacks, she won a silver medal at the 2022 World Championships and claimed gold at the World Boxing Cup in April 2024. On August 9, she secured a historic gold in the women’s 66 kg event at the Paris Olympics, becoming Algeria’s first female boxing gold medalist.

“For eight years, this has been my dream, and I’m now the Olympic champion and gold medallist,” Khelif said. Khelif’s journey to gold is a testament to her resilience, setting a powerful example as she now looks to inspire at the 2024 Paralympics. As Paris promises a Games to remember, watch the Paralympics and witness more incredible stories unfold.