An Afghan cyclist who once had to disguise herself as a man just to train safely has claimed a silver medal at the Asian Games, in a moment she hopes will inspire women back home.
Fariba Hashimi, 23, took second place in the women’s road race held near Nagoya, Japan, on Tuesday, days after finishing seventh in the individual time trial. She left Afghanistan in 2021 after the Taliban seized power and imposed sweeping restrictions on women’s freedoms, including bans on many sports and public activities.
Before fleeing, Hashimi said she wore men’s clothing and multiple masks to avoid being recognized or attacked while cycling to training sessions in her home province of Faryab, even dodging stones thrown at her on the road. She followed her older sister, Yulduz, also a professional cyclist, into the sport at age 15 despite the danger.
Hashimi now lives and trains in Italy, with support from former world champion Alessandra Cappellotto. She and her sister both competed at the 2024 Paris Olympics and are already looking toward the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Calling her medal a symbol of resilience, Hashimi said she hopes future generations of Afghan women can compete “without any fear,” adding that millions of women worldwide share her dream and support her.
Read the full original report from the BBC for more on Hashimi’s remarkable journey.
Source: Cyclist who dressed as man to avoid Taliban wins silver medal (feeds.bbci.co.uk).
Image: tejvanphotos, BY 2.0 (via Openverse).