Driving the Next 50 Years of Growth in Women's Sports
Utah's attacks on Olympic boxer's gender call future host's inclusivity into question
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Boxer Imane Khelif of Team Algeria with a coach during the Paris Olympics. Photo: Richard Pelham/Getty Images
Utah's Republican leaders have leapt again into Olympics culture wars, repeating unsubstantiated claims that Algerian boxer Imane Khelif is not a woman.
The intrigue: Among those amplifying attacks on Khelif is Gov. Spencer Cox, who two years ago won national attention for vetoing a statewide ban on trans students in high school sports.
- He also supported the opponent of state school board member Natalie Cline this spring after Cline's attacks on a high school basketball player's gender led to police protection for the girl.
Driving the news: U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, U.S. Rep. Burgess Owens, state House Speaker Mike Schultz, state Senate President Stuart Adams and other state lawmakers added to a flurry of false allegations against Khelif last week after her Italian opponent quit 46 seconds into their bout.
- Cox then reposted Schultz's statement that "Men don't belong in women's sports," as well as a complaint by U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) that Khelif had "inherent biological advantages."
The latest: Khelif won her quarterfinal match this weekend, guaranteeing her at least a bronze medal following Tuesday's semifinals.
Context: In spreading false claims that Khelif is a man, Cox further departs from his previous efforts to position himself as a rare, centrist conservative.
- His sharpest rightward shift came last month, when he endorsed former President Trump days after claiming he would not vote for him.
Catch up quick: For years, Cox nurtured a profile as a moderate — and attempted to burnish it with a "Disagree Better" campaign during his recent term as chair of the National Governors Association.
Zoom in: As governor and lieutenant governor, Cox specifically polished his bona fides as an LGBTQ+ ally.
- He joined teenagers on the state capitol floor as they staged a sit-in to protest conversion therapy, and appeared to weep in contrition for his past homophobia at a vigil for victims of the 2016 shooting at Orlando's Pulse nightclub.
What they're saying: "Today, unfortunately, I and most queer people feel not just unsafe in Cox's Utah, but betrayed by the man who said he had our backs," Jackson Lewis, a nonpartisan candidate for the Canyons School Board, posted on X.
Flashback: Barely a week before attacking Khelif, Utah's GOP leaders lambasted the opening ceremonies in Paris over a performance they said mocked Christianity.
- Paris Olympic organizers said the scene actually depicted Dionysus, the Greek god of wine.
Friction point: These Olympic culture war disputes come shortly after Salt Lake City was named host of the 2034 Winter Games, raising questions as to whether Utah will be an inclusive host.
The big picture: Women athletes at the Paris Olympics have endured a battery of abuse on social media over body image and femininity.
- In Taiwan, fans rallied to boxer Lin Yu-ting's defense after author J.K. Rowling targeted her alongside Khelif with claims they are men. Both boxers have competed — and lost to other women — during previous Olympic games.
- Ilona Maher — who joined Utahn Alex Spiff in bringing home Team USA's first Olympic medal for rugby sevens— posted a tearful video last month pushing back on sexist criticism of her "big," muscular body.