Nagoya, Japan, September 23, 2026: Fariba Hashimi dressed like a man to avoid detection by the Taliban back home in Afghanistan so as to pursue her passion of cycling.
That journey ended in joy on Tuesday, September 22, when the Paris Olympian won her country’s first medal at the 20th Asian Games to become Afghanistan’s first female medallist in the Asiad since Busan 2002.
“I came to the Asian Games dreaming about standing on the podium and representing my country,” Fariba told Olympics.com soon after winning the silver medal in the women's road race. “I can’t explain my feelings now.”
Having fled her homeland in 2021 - when the Taliban regained power and subsequently heavily restricted the freedom of women – Fariba’s silver in Aichi-Nagoya was more than just about sport.
“This silver medal can show a lot of resilience from Afghan women,” said the 23-year-old, who is an Olympic Solidarity scholarship holder.
“I’m not alone. I know that behind me are millions of women, from many countries, who have the same dream. They are standing with me,” she noted.
The first time Fariba won a cycling race was just nine years ago, in 2017. Alongside her older sister, Yulduz Hashimi, she spotted an advert for a race in the Faryab area. They had never ridden a bike before.
They borrowed neighbours’ bikes and spent a few hours learning to ride before entering the race. Fariba finished first. Yulduz was second.
“I felt like a bird who could fly. It felt amazing.”
It was a newfound feeling and freedom the sisters were not prepared to stop.
Hiding their identities with false names and clothing, they continued secretly racing before media outlets and locals began to catch on.
“No one ever thought that women would ride bicycles in Faryab,” Fariba was quoted by Reuters. “We thought it would be small, but it caused quite a stir. I always dressed like a man to go to train.”
The sisters faced hostility from the people as they rode. Stones and bottles were thrown at them. On one occasion, a rickshaw driver rammed into Yulduz on her bike, breaking her wrist.
“We had a really bad time, but I’m not saying my people are bad. We’ve got such a wonderful country. But the mentality is different,” Fariba said.
“Once, before a race, my father asked me ‘Do you want to ride? I’m fine with it, but I’m afraid they might kill you,” Fariba recalled. “In Afghanistan, this kind of freedom does not exist.”
In 2020, Afghanistan’s national women’s cycling team extended an invitation to the sisters to join the squad. The Taliban’s return to power a year later resulted in Fariba and Yulduz taking the painful decision to flee to Italy.
“It is sad I can’t live in my country,” Fariba said. “I haven’t seen my family for such a long time.”
Her sacrifice ended in a silver medal at the Asian Games.
“I don’t want to see the next generation crying because they want freedom. I don’t want the next generation to escape from the country. I hope something can change so the next generation can come from inside Afghanistan and compete at the Asian Games,” she added.
