Cycling sisters defy the Taliban to achieve Olympic dream

Yulduz and Fariba Hashimi are two sisters from Afghanistan who have a passion for cycling. They didn't start cycling until they were teenagers, which is quite late compared to many elite athletes who start their sports careers at a very young age. They grew up in Faryab, one of the most remote and conservative provinces in Afghanistan, where it was almost unheard of to see women on bicycles. One day, they saw an advertisement for a local cycle race and decided to participate. However, they faced two major challenges: they didn't own a bike and they didn't know how to ride one. They borrowed a bike from a neighbor and practiced for a few hours. They also had to keep their activities a secret from their family due to the stigma around women participating in sports in their conservative area. They wore big baggy clothes, large headscarves, and sunglasses to disguise themselves. On the day of the race, they astonishingly came in first and second place. They felt incredible and continued to enter more races. Their parents eventually found out through local media and were initially upset, but the sisters didn't give up. They continued cycling in secret, despite facing dangers such as people trying to hit them with cars or throwing stones at them.

In 2021, the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan and imposed strict restrictions on women's rights, including banning them from participating in sports. The sisters had always dreamed of competing in the Olympics, but they knew they had to leave Afghanistan if they wanted to continue cycling. With the help of contacts in the cycling community, they managed to secure seats on an Italian evacuation flight along with three teammates. Once in Italy, they joined a cycling team and received professional coaching for the first time. Leaving their homeland and family was incredibly difficult for them, but they were determined to pursue their dreams.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) wanted to find a way for Afghan women to compete in the Olympics despite the Taliban's ban on women playing sports. They arranged for a special gender-equal team representing Afghanistan to participate in the Paris Olympics in 2024. The team would consist of three women and three men, and both Yulduz and Fariba were selected to be part of it. This was a huge surprise and a dream come true for the sisters. They are now training at the World Cycling Centre in Switzerland, an ultra-modern facility that is a world away from the dusty roads of Afghanistan where they first learned to cycle. They are very excited to represent Afghan women at the Olympics and hope to inspire others to pursue their dreams despite the challenges they face.

The sisters are preparing for the Olympic road race event while riding for a development team run by the UCI, the global governing body for cycling. The IOC has stated that no Taliban officials will be allowed to attend the Paris 2024 Olympics, which is a relief for the sisters. They are focused on their training and are determined to do their best at the Olympics. They know that their journey has been difficult, but they are proud of what they have achieved. They hope to make their country proud and show the world that Afghan women can achieve great things. Their achievement belongs to all the women in Afghanistan, and they are determined to show that they can achieve great success despite all the rights that have been taken from them.