In 2024, many athletes garnered attention, including Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, LeBron James, Bronny James, Simone Biles and Noah Lyles.
But one athlete was searched more than all of them.
When it comes to the world of sports, the top searches on Google in 2024 for athletes centered on boxing and the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Here are the year’s top 10 most-searched athletes on Google, and the person who occupied the top spot will shock you.
- Imane Khelif
- Mike Tyson
- Lamine Yamal
- Simone Biles
- Jake Paul
- Nico Williams
- Hardik Pandya
- Scottie Scheffler
- Shashank Singh
- Rodri
You read that correctly.
BIG NEWS:
— Boxing Kingdom (@BoxingKingdom14) December 11, 2024
Boxer Imane Khelif was the most searched athlete on Google for 2024. Imane was more popular than all athletes from all other sports. Huge numbers. pic.twitter.com/KXEHVad4F4
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The world watched Imane Khelif win Olympic gold in women’s boxing at the Paris Olympics, but more so the attention surrounding whether she was a transgender boxer facing off against women.
Khelif was searched on Google more than celebrity superstar athletes Simone Biles, Jake Paul, and Mike Tyson.
Here is how many responded to this shocking news:
“For the wrong reasons, though,” one fan pointed out.
“Yeah, I wonder why,” another fan pointed for the obvious transgender reason.
One fan added: “Searching to see if it was a bloke or not let’s be honest.”
Searching to see if it was a bloke or not let’s be honest
— Del Boy (@canelosdreams) December 11, 2024
Another added that Imane Khelif was only searched for controversial reasons, stating “Popular…. think you mean controversial. But you know this.”
One fan wass till upset about Khelif, stating, “F–king fraud, too. It was confirmed that HE has male genitalia and yet was still allowed to compete in the women’s division. Disgraceful from the Olympics for allowing this to happen. Gold medal should be stripped and the women that were injured by HIM should be compensated.”
One final fan summed it up: “May have been googled the most, but don’t mistake that for popularity. I guarantee that most searches were based on the controversial IOC determination that this boxer was fighting in the women’s category but is, in fact biologically not a woman.”
May have been googled the most, but don’t mistake that for popularity.
— Mogz (@Ianmogzmorris) December 11, 2024
I guarantee that most searches were based on the controversial IOC determination that this boxer was fighting in the women’s category but is in fact biologically not a woman
Imane Khelif Won Gold Medal Despite Intense Backlash And It Led To Increased Google Searches
Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, who won a gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics, became the subject of cyberbullying and intense discussion on social media about gender.
Many believed Khelif was competing against women despite allegedly being born with the XY chromosomes.
She first gained attention after a video showed her punching Italian boxer Angela Carini in the face and forcing her to withdraw from the match in just 46 seconds.
That led to more information coming out about how Imane Khelif was disqualified from the 2023 championships before a gold medal bout over gender eligibility issues.
Social media exploded.
Despite the backlash, the International Olympic Committee defended Khelif’s inclusion, insisting the boxer complied with all necessary qualifications to compete in the Olympics as a woman.
