THE Olympic boxer who quit against Imane Khelif revealed the abuse she receives has “destroyed her career” like an “infected wound that bleeds and hurts”.
Angela Carini famously quit her bout with Khelif at Paris 2024 after just 46 seconds.
APAngela Carini opened up on the abuse she has received since quitting against Imane Khelif[/caption]
INSTAGRAM @angela.carini_tigerCarini took a few months out of the public spotlight to “rebuild” herself[/caption]
The Italian, 26, took two blows to the head before dramatically conceding the fight, fearing for her life.
After breaking down in tears inside the ring and in the mixed zone, a distraught Carini admitted she had to “safeguard her life”, had “never taken a punch like” Khelif’s and the pain made it “impossible to continue”.
Her decision to quit exploded the boxing gender row which dominated last summer’s Olympics.
Algerian Khelif and Lin Yu Ting of Taiwan had previously been disqualified from the IBA’s World Boxing Championships in 2023 for allegedly failing gender tests.
However, both of them were allowed to fight at the Olympics under the IOC’s sex eligibility rules and went on to win gold medals.
Now Carini has spoken out about the shocking treatment she has been subjected to over the last year since the Paris drama.
The former world and European silver medalist shared screenshots of vile messages sent to her on social media – including calling her a “coward”, “the shame of the Italy team” and telling her not to go to an Olympics again.
In a voiceover, a brave Carini then said: “Have you ever wondered how hard it was for me to face these words?
“What I had to endure and endure day after day?
“What I had to face in my silence, while preserving my health from a stupid social network, from people who speak and say words without thinking twice?
“Because for them it´s just a sentence, it´s just a word, it´s just fun, it´s just wanting to follow the crowd.
“For many it is easy to forget the past, but for me it wasn’t.
“That past that marked my life. That past that left wounds inside me that I try to heal day after day, but like an infected wound, it bleeds and hurts.
“That past that changed and destroyed my career, built year after year with sacrifices, dedication, tenacity and a lot of passion…
“That career that is underestimated and belittled by those who preferred to have a laugh for a few moments, preferred to throw the stone.”
Carini admitted she had to “rebuild” herself as she withdraw from the public spotlight to be with her family.
I invite everyone to reflect… a word, a gesture, a command can hurt and destroy a person
Angela Carini
She made her comeback inside the ring in December and won three bouts to be crowned Italian champion for the eighth time.
The Naples star then earned World Boxing Cup gold in Poland in May.
Now she has urged haters and trolls to consider their words and actions – especially online – which had “hurt and destroy a person”.
Carini continued: “Putting all the disappointment aside, I got back into that ring, reconfirming myself as Italian champion and bringing home medals from important international tournaments.
“Getting back into that ring was a tough challenge.
“These words of mine will not change the world, I will not make people become kinder.
“But at least I invite everyone to reflect… a word, a gesture, a command can hurt and destroy a person.”
INSTAGRAM @angela.carini_tigerCarini did a voiceover on the Instagram post[/caption]
GettyShe broke down in tears in the ring and when speaking to the media[/caption]
GettyCarini took two heavy hits to the head before conceding[/caption] Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
