Afghan cyclist wins medal while challenging restrictions on women
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Hashimi, a 23-year-old cyclist from the Faryab province of Afghanistan, won a medal after completing a 90.4 km race in 2:50:05.
She trained in secret for years by disguising herself as a man to avoid danger, as women face restrictions in her country. Hashimi left Afghanistan in 2021 when the Taliban regained power and relocated to Italy with support from former world champion Alessandra Cappellotto.
She sees her achievement as a victory for Afghan women, stating the medal demonstrates their resilience and hopes it will inspire future generations to compete without fear. Hashimi and her sister previously competed in the Olympic Games in Paris. Hashimi is the first Afghan woman to win a medal in the competition since 2002, and she intends to continue competing, with her sights set on the 2028 Los Angeles games.
