Caitlin Clark Snubbed? Imane Khelif Receives Surprising Votes for Female Athlete of the Year

Most of the sports community likely didn’t have to think twice about whether or not Caitlin Clark deserved to win the 2024 Associated Press (AP) Female Athlete of the Year. However, a surprising detail in the AP’s announcement caught attention: But stiff competition was stiff in absentia, with Algerian Olympic boxer Imane Khelif receiving four votes.

Out of 74 voters, 35 picked Clark, 25 picked gymnastics icon Simone Biles, and 4 picked Khelif. Khelif’s unexpected support also raised some eyebrows, given Clark and Biles’ accomplishments.

This year, Khelif caused a stir with her win of the welterweight gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The news reports show the Algerian boxer with XY chromosomes but allowed to compete in the women’s category sparked debate about fairness in women’s sports. Khelif’s Olympic triumph made headlines around the world, despite the outcry.

Of course it’s an achievement but it isn’t as splashy as athletes like Clark or Biles, they say. Other worthier candidates they pointed out included tennis star Coco Gauff and basketball standout Angel Reese, who had big impacts in their sports.

KHELIF has also been hit by criticism of the AP’s decision to take him as one of its finalists, which some have seen as political rather than athletic. This move has pushed sports’ ongoing debates about identity and inclusion to extraordinary extremes.