"Imane Khelif is literally not a trans woman" -Nikki Hiltz weighs in on 'gender row' controversy with the boxer during the Paris Olympics

By Animesh Pandey

Modified Sep 16, 2024 08:22 GMT

Middle distance runner Nikki Hiltz has come out in support of Olympic champion Imane Khelif from Algeria. Hiltz, who represented the USA at the women's 1500m event in the Paris Olympics, expressed their views on the Algerian boxer and her struggles, both within the ring and outside it.

Hiltz weighed in on the controversy around Khelif's gender at the Paris Olympics. Following Khelif's eventual gold medal victory at the Paris Olympics, the controversy around her has refused to die down.

In a recent appearance on the 'Exes and O's' podcast, hosted by Shannon Beveridge, Hiltz talked about various issues, from spending time with their friend, Paralympic champion Hunter Woodhall, and his Olympic champion wife Tara Davis-Woodhall, to the controversy around Khelif.

When asked about the Algerian boxer, Hiltz said,

"A lot of stuff happened in the early stages of the Olympics, like with the boxer, who...everyone was one like, 'she's a trans woman' - she's literally not.

And it was like.... what are her chromosomes, JK Rowling got involved[...] that's insane" [16:36 ].

Nikki Hiltz also shared how Imane Khelif was facing the press throughout her campaign at the Paris Olympics.

Hiltz said,

"There was a lot of press around her [Imane Khelif] obviously, and it was like, that's what I got asked about. Which is totally just fine, you know, I'm happy to anytime use my platform to stand up for someone from our community. Which is weird because... I was like, 'but she's not a trans woman!'" [20:50 onwards]

Hiltz made an announcement in 2021, coming out as transgender and non-binary. The American middle distance runner made their Olympic debut at the Paris Olympics, finishing seventh in the final.

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Nikki Hiltz's performances at the 2024 Paris Olympics

Nikki Hiltz in action during the women's 1500m semifinals at the Paris Olympics 2024 [Image Source: Getty]

After winning a silver medal at the World Indoor Championships in 2024, Nikki Hiltz recorded a personal best of 3 minutes, 55.33 seconds at the US Olympic trials to qualify for the Paris Olympics in the women's 1500m event, making their Olympic debut.

Hiltz finished third in the heats with a timing of 4:0.42. They maintained the same position in the semifinals, qualifying for the final with an improved timing of 3 minutes, 56.17 seconds.

It had been eight years since an American runner had last won an Olympic medal in this event. Jennifer Simpson last won the bronze medal for the USA at the Rio Olympics in 2016.

Nikki Hiltz could only manage to finish seventh, with a timing of 3 minutes, 56.38 seconds. The current world record holder and the defending Olympic champion, Faith Kipyegon of Kenya won the event for the third consecutive time, with a new Olympic record of 3 minutes, 51.29 seconds.

Jessica Hull of Australia won the silver medal with a timing of 3 minutes, 52.56 seconds, while Georgia Bell of Great Britain finished third in 3:52.61.