The controversy surrounding the Paris Olympics, following a female boxer’s loss in just 46 seconds to a ‘biological male,’ has drawn parallels to a prediction made by the animated series South Park nearly five years ago, as noted by fans.
The overwhelming defeat of Italy’s Angela Carini by Algeria’s Imane Khelif has ignited outrage after it was revealed that Khelif had previously faced a ban from competition due to ‘having male sex chromosomes.’
In a 2019 episode titled ‘Go Strong Woman, Go,’ a transgender athlete named ‘Heather Swanson’ decisively overpowers her female opponent, leaving her seriously injured before celebrating with a trophy.
‘I can’t express how liberated I feel now that I identify as a woman,’ she says in an interview, adjusting her sunglasses. ‘Now that I can compete as a female, I’m ready to dominate the other girls!’
The 2019 South Park episode ‘Go Strong Woman, Go’ featured a muscular and bearded transgender athlete who dominated her female opponent in a boxing match.
Italian Angela Carini lost in just 46 seconds against Algeria’s Imane Khelif, who had been banned from women’s boxing for having male chromosomes.
Carini, 25, threw her helmet to the ground and wept as the match was called off, exclaiming ‘this is unjust’ after just two punishing punches from her opponent on Thursday.
‘I’m accustomed to adversity,’ she stated afterward. ‘I’ve never taken such a punch before; it’s impossible to continue.’
The episode starts with a sharp satire regarding biological women welcoming transgender competitors.
‘Incredible. I feel privileged to be part of history,’ says the reigning Strongwoman champion when asked about the competition’s first transgender participant.
‘I have many amazing trans friends who are athletes, and we are all inspired by her competition,’ she continues, just as the heavily muscled and bearded Swanson appears in a ten-gallon hat.
When challenged about transitioning just weeks prior, the character responds: ‘I’m not here to discuss my transition; I’m here to kick some f***ing a**.’
‘Let me tell you something, I’m going to roll up the other women here and smoke them. I am the strongest woman this state has ever seen!’
Creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s cartoon has long been recognized for its sharp insight into the cultural debates in the country and foresight into how they might unfold.
The episode features Heather Swanson achieving victory against female opponents while boasting, ‘I am the strongest woman this state has ever seen!’
Khelif faced a ban from the International Boxing Association’s (IBA) Women’s World Boxing Championships in New Delhi last year after tests indicated she had XY chromosomes.
Carin, 25, expressed her frustration and disbelief after a match was stopped following just two punches from her opponent.
Episodes of the show have previously predicted various events including the legalization of marijuana, the death of Osama bin Laden, and even Ricky Martin’s coming out.
However, fans have noted the sad predictability of the current events in Paris.
‘It’s astonishing yet unsurprising how South Park accurately captured this scenario; it seemed inevitable,’ commented one viewer.
‘At this point, South Park functions as an animated documentary series,’ suggested another user.
‘South Park foresaw the decline of standards in our world long before it became apparent,’ remarked a third follower.
Khelif was disqualified from the International Boxing Association’s (IBA) Women’s World Boxing Championships in New Delhi last year after tests revealed that she had ‘XY chromosomes’—a marker of biological maleness.
Despite this, the IOC, which sets eligibility criteria for Olympic boxing, asserted that Khelif and another boxer, Taiwan’s Lin Yu-Ting—who also failed gender tests—met ‘all eligibility and entry regulations.’
Khelif herself has claimed in Algerian media that she has had elevated testosterone levels since birth.
Moreover, Carini isn’t the only female boxer to raise concerns about the power behind Khelif’s punches. After Khelif’s 2023 disqualification, Mexican boxer Brianda Tamara reflected on her own fight against Khelif earlier in the tournament.
‘During my match with her, I felt extremely outclassed,’ she expressed on X. ‘Her punches were incredibly painful; I don’t believe I’ve ever experienced such intensity in my 13 years in boxing, even during sparring with men.’
The episode satirizes biological women who support transgender rivals.
Online discussions emphasize the grim predictability of the events in Paris as portrayed in South Park.
‘I’m grateful I left the ring unscathed that day, and it’s reassuring that this has finally been recognized.’
In response to the backlash, Algeria’s Olympic Committee (COA) condemned what they termed ‘baseless’ accusations against Khelif.
‘The COA strongly denounces the unethical targeting of our respected athlete, Imane Khelif, involving unfounded propaganda from certain foreign media outlets,’ they stated.
‘These attacks on her character and dignity are profoundly unjust, especially as she prepares for the pinnacle of her career at the Olympics.’
