Lin Yu-ting Wins Gold Amid Gender Controversy

Lin Yu-ting, amid ongoing gender eligibility controversies became the second boxer in 24 hours to win women’s Olympic gold. The Taiwanese fighter clinched the featherweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Poland’s Julia Szeremeta. This win came just a day after Imane Khelif secured the welterweight gold. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) allowed Lin and Khelif to compete in Paris despite their disqualification from last year’s World Championships due to failed gender eligibility tests and criticized the International Boxing Association (IBA) for its handling of the issue.

Lin demonstrated her dominance with her fourth consecutive unanimous decision victory in the competition. After her match against Szeremeta, Lin and her opponent shared an embrace and Lin showed visible emotion during the medal ceremony. Although some of Lin’s previous competitors protested, Szeremeta did not display any signs of dissent. The controversy surrounding Lin and Khelif’s eligibility continued when a French lawyer announced he would represent Khelif in a legal complaint for online harassment.

Lin Yu-ting revealed that she had avoided social media during the competition to focus on her performance and would discuss any potential legal action with her team later. The IOC, which oversees the Olympic boxing events, permitted Lin and Khelif to compete despite the IBA’s initial bans. The IBA had cited gender eligibility issues, but the IOC defended both athletes, stating that their passports confirmed their female gender. This dispute has overshadowed the Olympic boxing events and raised questions about the sport’s future in the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

IOC President Thomas Bach suggested that if someone presents a scientifically solid system for determining gender eligibility, the IOC would consider revisiting its rules.