Julia Szeremeta is our hope for a gold medal in boxing, at least for most ordinary Polish sports fans. However, some people are wishing for her defeat in the Paris Olympics final. The reason? She’s not politically correct enough and doesn’t hold back her words. Before the final, she posted on her Instagram: “To win the gold, I just need to take him down.” Moreover, a few months ago, she ran in local elections. Tomorrow’s fight for the gold against a controversial representative from Taiwan promises to be not just a sporting event. For some, it will be a political battle, and for many, a “gender war.”
Julia Szeremeta is perhaps the biggest surprise in the Polish team at the Paris Olympics. The 20-year-old made her way to the final of the boxing tournament with sheer determination, without holding back. It’s a huge success for Polish boxing. The last time Poland brought home a medal in this sport was 32 years ago, and the last time a Polish boxer fought in a final was 44 years ago.
The Controversial Lin Yu-Ting
There’s plenty to celebrate. Many fans are already cheering, believing that the Polish boxer is the best among women, regardless of tomorrow’s result. This is due to the controversial Taiwanese fighter Lin Yu-Ting, who identifies as a woman but was disqualified during last year’s World Championships. The International Boxing Association (IBA) ruled that the boxer failed gender tests, meaning he could not compete in women’s matches. Although he was accepted for the Olympics, the controversy remains.
Szeremeta and the Political Issue
Julia Szeremeta further fueled the atmosphere by posting on her Instagram:
“To win the gold, I just need to take him down,” she wrote.
The final has thus become a matter of worldview, quickly spilling over into the political arena.
Left-wing MP Anna Maria Żukowska defended the Taiwanese representative, seemingly focusing only on appearance and the lack of “long blonde hair.”
“Is Confederation now going to call any woman without long blonde hair a man?” – Żukowska asked with irony.
However, she quickly faced a retort from a participant in the discussion on platform X, who reminded her of the fundamental difference between a man and a woman.
“No, only those who have a pair of XY chromosomes.” – summarized a netizen.