Republicans are criticizing the Olympics for allowing a “biological male” to beat up an Italian athlete, calling the competition “dangerous” and “immoral.”
The outrage stems from a 46-second Olympic boxing match between Italian boxer Angela Carini and her Algerian opponent Imane Khelif, who is considered “biologically male.”
Khelif, who was disqualified from a major Olympic boxing match due to gender issues, struck Carini with two bales of hay early in the match.
These terrible blows prompted Carini to scream, “This is unfair,” before falling to the canvas and crying as her Olympic dream was shattered.
The brazen display enraged members of the GOP and immediately sparked outrage from the right, which has long advocated segregating the sexes in sports.
Now, Rep. Lauren Boebert, Republican of Colorado, is trying to crowdfund the $196,000 gold prize Carini was robbed of, which has already risen to nearly $20,000.
Algeria’s Imane Khelif (in red) during the Women’s 66 kg preliminary round match against Angela Carini of Italy (in blue) on the sixth day of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at North Paris Arena on August 1, 2024 in Paris, France.
“Angela Carini, the Italian female boxer who was defeated in 45 seconds by a biological male at the Olympics, deserves better,” Rep. Lauren Boebert, Republican of Colorado, posted on X after the fight went viral.
In her post, Boebert said she had started a fundraiser “with the goal of matching Angela’s gold medal earnings” and hoped her followers “would consider donating as well.”
Italy reportedly pays Olympic gold medalists approximately $196,000 each.
After the fight, Carini said in an emotional interview that the enormous force of the blows made it “impossible to continue.”
“The Olympics give gold medals for attacking women,” Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., posted on X after the game.
“Anyone with at least one good eye and common sense can see that this was not a fair fight,” Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), who himself wears an eyepatch because of a missing eye, wrote ironically on X.
“Angelia Carini dedicated her life to boxing and a shot at Olympic glory. Forcing her to fight a competitor with inherent biological advantages was dangerous and immoral,” the one-eyed congresswoman continued.
Representatives Nancy Mace (left) and Lauren Boebert (right) both criticized the Olympics for allowing the fight to go ahead
Khelif struck Carini twice with a devastating blow before the Italian gave up
Carini went to the ground and sobbed after calling off the fight
Khelif seemed emotionless after winning the fight
Italy’s Angela Carini gets emotional after her loss in the preliminary round of the women’s 66kg to Algerian Imane Khelif
Former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley posted on X: “It’s a disgrace that the IOC allows a man to compete in women’s boxing and punch a woman in the face on the Olympic podium.”
“These female athletes give everything to be the best. It’s disgusting to see their dreams crushed by a man.”
“Give them justice, withdraw Imane Khelif from the competition immediately,” her message continued.
The Republican anger is similar to the outrage that erupted when transgender swimmer Lia Thomas won the 2022 NCAA national championship title.
This saga led to a flood of legislation to protect women’s sports, including the introduction of laws banning biological males from competing against biological females.
Differences in sex development (DSD) have become a central point of controversy at this year’s Olympic Games after ‘biological male’ Khelif Carini defeated him.
Khelif was previously banned from competing in a women’s tournament after failing a “gender assessment” but was controversially given the green light to compete in this year’s Games.
Khelif has not yet commented on the matter, but speculation is rife that she has DSD, a rare condition that affects only 0.05 to 1 percent of the population.
The judge holds up Khelif’s arm, symbolizing her victory over Carini
Khelif is said to have ‘intersex’ conditions, which means she has a different developmental process than the average woman
DSDs are also called ‘intersex’ conditions and can cause individuals who appear female on the outside to have male chromosomes or male anatomy.
“A real woman, Angela Carini, who trained for years to box in the Olympics, is being ‘defeated’ by a real man posing as a woman,” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Republican of Georgia, posted on X.
“HE is a cheater, a fraud and a liar. Shame on ANYONE who lets men compete with women. Democrats support this.”