Taiwan’s Lin Yu-Ting made history at the Paris Olympics by winning the gold medal in women’s featherweight boxing, defeating Poland’s Julia Szeremeta in a unanimous decision.
The 28-year-old boxer showcased her skill and determination, winning all three rounds with a performance that left no doubt about her superiority in the ring.
Lin’s victory was significant not only because of her athletic prowess but also because of the controversy surrounding her participation. Alongside Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, Lin was at the center of a gender dispute that has divided the boxing community.
Both athletes were disqualified from last year’s World Championships after failing gender-specific tests that revealed elevated testosterone levels and the presence of XY chromosomes. Despite this, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) cleared both Lin and Khelif to compete in Paris, a decision that has sparked debate across the sports world.
Lin’s journey to the gold medal was marked by resilience. She faced criticism from fans, professional boxers, and even her opponents throughout the tournament. After her Round of 16 victory over Uzbekistan’s Sitora Turdibekova, Lin made headlines when Turdibekova left the ring in tears following her defeat.
In the quarter-finals, Lin faced Bulgaria’s Svetlana Staneva, who protested her loss with a cryptic hand gesture, pointing to herself and making a double X symbol, a reference to her XX chromosomes. This gesture was later mirrored by Turkish boxer Yildiz Kahraman, who also lost to Lin in the semi-finals.
Despite the challenges and the controversy, Lin remained focused and delivered a stellar performance in the final against Szeremeta. She expertly used her reach advantage and technical skills to control the fight, winning her first Olympic gold without losing a single round.
After the fight, there was a moment of sportsmanship between Lin and Szeremeta, who showed respect by making a heart symbol with her hands instead of the controversial XX gesture seen earlier in the tournament.
Lin expressed her joy and gratitude following her victory. “I feel incredible. I want to thank everyone who has supported me and thanks to my team and everyone in Taiwan. They gave me the power,” she said.