What's happened
Fariba Hashimi, who fled Afghanistan after the Taliban returned to power, has won silver in the women’s road race near Nagoya, Japan. Based in Italy, she trained in disguise during her teenage years and now aims to inspire other Afghan women while preparing for Los Angeles 2028.
What's behind the headline?
Analysis
- Hashimi’s silver medal underscores a broader struggle for Afghan women under Taliban rule, highlighting resilience and international support.
- The story intersects sports, gender rights, and refugee pathways, showing how athletes leverage diaspora networks to compete on the world stage.
- The focus on personal bravery — training in disguise and performing self-repairs on her bike — adds a human dimension that can mobilize readers to follow her journey and the broader issue.
Forecast: Hashimi’s continued presence at major events could influence sponsorship and visibility for women’s sports from restricted societies. Communities following her path may push for more inclusive policies at international sporting bodies.
How we got here
Hashimi left Afghanistan after the Taliban’s 2021 return to power. With support from Italian former champion Alessandra Cappellotto, she relocated to Italy, where she now trains. She previously competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics and has made the 2028 Los Angeles Games a target.
Our analysis
BBC Business reports Hashimi’s silver medal and her statements about fighting for freedom; Al Jazeera highlights her gratitude to the Japanese team and details of training; The Guardian provides context on her background and future ambitions.
Go deeper
- Will Hashimi’s success translate into more opportunities for Afghan women in sport?
- How might international teams and federations respond to athletes facing restrictions in their home countries?
- What other athletes from restricted countries are making waves on the world stage?
More on these topics
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Faryab Province - Province of Afghanistan
Faryab (Pashto, Dari: فاریاب) is one of the thirty-four provinces of Afghanistan, which is located in the north of the country bordering neighboring Turkmenistan. It has a population of about 1,109,223, which is multi-ethnic and mostly a tribal society. The province encompasses 15 districts and over 1,000 villages. The capital of Faryab province is Maymana. It also borders Jowzjan Province, Sar-e Pol Province, Ghor Province and Badghis Province.
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Italy - Country in Europe
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a sovereign country consisting of a peninsula delimited by the Alps and surrounded by several islands. Italy is located in south-central Europe, and is considered part of western Europe.
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Alessandra Cappellotto - Italian racing cyclist
Alessandra Cappellotto (born 27 August 1968) is a retired racing cyclist from Italy. She represented her native country at two consecutive Summer Olympics: 1996, and 2000. She won the world title in the women's individual road race at the 1997 UCI Road...
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Nagoya - City in Japan
Nagoya is the largest city in the Chūbu region of Japan. It is Japan's fourth-largest incorporated city and the third most populous urban area.
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Taliban
The Taliban or Taleban, who refer to themselves as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, are a Sunni Islamic fundamentalist political movement and military organization in Afghanistan currently waging war within that country.
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Fariba Hashimi - Afghan cyclist
Fariba Hashimi (born 22 April 2003) is an Afghan racing cyclist, who currently rides for UCI Women's WorldTeam Ceratizit Pro Cycling. She competed in the road race at the 2024 Paris Olympics alongside her sister Yulduz, despite the Taliban government's ban on women in sports. In 2022, she won the Afghan road race championships, which were held in Aigle, Switzerland.
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Japan - Country in East Asia
Japan is an island country of East Asia in the northwest Pacific Ocean. It borders the Sea of Japan to the west and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south.
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Afghanistan - Country in South Asia
Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of Central and South Asia.