Italian Boxer Carini Addresses Online Abuse After Olympic Bout

Italian boxer Angela Carini has spoken out against the intense online abuse she has faced since her swift exit from a fight against Algeria's Imane Khelif at the Paris Olympics, an experience she says "destroyed her career." Carini quit the bout after just 46 seconds due to pain from Khelif's punches, a decision that sparked widespread debate over Khelif's eligibility to compete, with commentary from figures such as President Donald Trump and Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni. Despite controversy and disqualification from the 2023 world championships by the International Boxing Association, Khelif was cleared to compete by the IOC under previous sex eligibility rules and went on to win Olympic gold. Carini shared a poignant video with screenshots of abusive messages, describing the emotional toll and the struggle to cope with the harsh criticism from social media. After a period of reflection, Carini returned to the sport, winning her eighth Italian title and a gold medal at the World Boxing Cup, while calling for greater awareness about the damaging power of words. The case highlights ongoing tensions in Olympic boxing governance and the personal impact of public scrutiny on athletes.