An Afghan cyclist who secretly trained as a man to pursue her passion for cycling has secured a silver medal at the Asian Games, hoping her achievement will empower other women in a nation where the Taliban have severely restricted female participation in sports.
Fariba Hashimi finished second in the women’s road race near Nagoya, Japan, on Tuesday. The 23-year-old described the result as “something special,” reflecting on the dangers she faced growing up in Afghanistan, including stone attacks and the necessity of disguising her gender to ride alongside her sister, Yulduz, who is also a professional cyclist.
“I was born inside a country where the women who dream are getting attacked, and I’m really happy that I have fought against that,” Hashimi told reporters. “I hope that the next generation will come here and represent their country without any fear.”
Since regaining power in 2021, the Taliban has enforced strict regulations that limit women’s access to education, public life, and athletic competition. Hashimi, originally from Faryab province in northern Afghanistan, fled the country after the regime’s return.
“They took away our freedom, they took away everything from us,” Hashimi said. “This silver medal can show a lot of resilience from Afghan women, and I’m really happy. I’m not alone; I know that behind me millions of women, from many countries, have the same dream and they are standing with me.”
Hashimi relocated to Italy with the assistance of former world champion Alessandra Cappellotto. She now lives and trains there, having previously competed in the Paris Olympics two years ago. She expressed hope that she and her sister could qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
“I never want to give up, and hopefully we can see [what can happen] again in Los Angeles,” she added.
Hashimi also acknowledged the support she received from the Japanese team, who assisted with her bicycle maintenance during the event. She noted that she traveled without a dedicated mechanic or extensive preparation, relying on one national federation staff member to drive their vehicle. “I was the mechanic for myself. I was washing the bike myself. Thank you to the Japanese team. They were really, really nice to me [and] fixed my bike,” she said.
Taliban restrictions are horrific, but Fariba’s defiance is inspiring. Cannot wait for LA 2028!
Did anyone else notice she only had one federation staff member? That’s a huge logistical hurdle to overcome.
Her quote about the Japanese team fixing her bike moved me. Small acts of kindness mean everything.
Wait, she finished second while doing her own bike maintenance? That is seriously impressive multitasking under pressure!
An incredible story of resilience. Hope her silver medal opens doors for women in Afghanistan.