Angela Carini Apologized After Her Early Paris Withdrawal
Angela Carini withdrew from her Olympic women’s 66kg bout against Imane Khelif after forty-six seconds on August 1, 2024. The Italian later apologized for not shaking hands, explaining that her immediate distress concerned the end of her own Olympic campaign.
Carini explained her reaction
Carini said pain after being struck had led her to stop the contest. Khelif advanced when the Italian abandoned the bout, while Carini left the ring in tears.
In comments reported the following day, Carini said she had not intended to behave disrespectfully toward her opponent. She expressed sympathy for Khelif, said she respected the IOC’s decision allowing her to compete and indicated that she would embrace her if they met again.
The IOC set out its position
The IOC and Paris 2024 Boxing Unit stated that all athletes in the Olympic boxing tournament complied with its eligibility, entry and applicable medical regulations. They said the rules followed the established Olympic framework used during qualification.
The statement also criticized the IBA’s handling of its 2023 disqualifications, describing a lack of proper procedure. The organizations’ disagreement formed the regulatory backdrop to the public controversy surrounding the bout.
Khelif continued to the final
Khelif subsequently reached the Olympic final against China’s Yang Liu. On August 9, she won a unanimous 5–0 decision to claim the women’s welterweight gold medal.
Carini’s withdrawal and later apology therefore belonged to an earlier stage of that tournament. Her clarification added her own explanation to the emotional scenes after the opening-round contest.
Sources
- Euronews: withdrawal, handshake apology and Carini’s explanation
- IOC/PBU: published Paris eligibility position
- Associated Press: August 9 final and unanimous result
