Paris 2024 Olympics RECAP: Algerian gender row boxer Imane Khelif cruises to Olympic gold with unanimous decision victory... after Team GB's Katarina Johnson-Thompson wins silver in the women's heptathlon

A fan among the crowd at Roland Garros for Friday's evening of Olympic boxing finals used a handmade sign to send a message to Imane Khelif.

It simply read: 'Imane, we love you as you are'.

After receiving her gold medal, Imane Khelif stood proudly with her right hand on her heart as the Algerian national anthem was played inside Roland Garros.

Some athletes choose to stand quietly at this point, but Khelif opted to sing along, as did plenty of fans among the crowd.

Former Man City winger Riyad Mahrez reacted to Imane Khelif's victory by sharing a photo of the new Olympic champion alongside a saluting emoji and an Algerian flag.

Algeria international Mahrez's previous interaction on X (formerly Twitter) had been to repost a message from the IOC defending Khelif's involvement in the women's 66kg tournament at Paris 2024.

After a brief delay, Khelif returns to the ring along with the three other medalists in the women's 66kg competition.

Plenty of fans have remained behind to witness her receiving her gold.

Khelif kisses her medal, holds it up and then studies it intently.

She also poses for selfies with her fellow competitors.

Amy Broadhurst, who beat Khelif at the World Championships in 2022, recently defended the Algerian amid the scrutiny and misconceptions around her gender.

Now Broadhurst has taken to Instagram to offer her congratulations after Khelif became an Olympic champion.

Broadhurst wrote: 'Very happy for this girl!! Weathered the storm and got what she deserved.'

AC Milan midfielder Ismael Bennacer, who has been capped 49 times by Algeria, tweeted: 'Congratulations to our Olympic champion Imane Khelif.

'Despite the hatred, misinformation and relentlessness, she remained mentally strong to win the gold medal and honor Algeria.'

UNICEF, the US embassy in Algeria and the official X (Twitter) account of the Olympic Games have all sent messages of congratulations to Khelif on her victory.

'Congratulations #Imane_Khelif on winning the gold medal at the #OlympicGames #Paris2024!!! You have shown us that everything is possible…that dreams can come true. #ForEveryChild, a champion,' read a tweet by UNICEF Algerie.

Meanwhile, the US Embassy Algiers wrote: 'Congratulations to Imane Khelif, who fought for and won the gold medal.'

By MIKE KEEGAN and SAM LAWLEY

Gender row boxer Imane Khelif stormed to Olympic gold in Paris on Friday night.

The Algerian dismantled China’s Yang Liu in the welterweight final at a packed Roland Garros to cap a controversial march to first place in which she did not lose a single round.

The most eagerly anticipated fight of the Games turned into another mismatch, with the 25-year-old rocking her opponent on multiple occasions in front of a delighted crowd.

Click below for the full story.

Gender scandal boxer Imane Khelif wins Olympic GOLD in Paris final

Imane Khelif, the Algerian boxer who has been at the centre of a gender scandal which has dominated the Paris Olympics , has claimed gold in the women's 66kg event after beating China's Yang Liu.

Imane Khelif is an Olympic champion.

Another victory by unanimous decision is confirmed and Khelif celebrates by dancing around the ring.

She and Yang then embrace again before the celebrations continue.