The world’s fastest women sprinted down the Olympic straight during the 100m heats on the first morning of athletics at the Stade de France, but one athlete bore a significant weight. Kimia Yousofi, representing the six-member Afghan team in Paris, lagged behind and finished two seconds after the frontrunner.
After her race, she displayed a piece of A4 paper with her thoughts written on it. “Education” was penned in black, followed by “Sport” in green. And in red, reflecting the Afghan flag’s colors, she wrote “our rights”. “I have a message for Afghan girls,” she shared. “Don’t give up, don’t let others decide for you. Seek opportunities, and make the most of them,” she said.
At 28 years old, she carried her nation’s flag during the Tokyo Games, but fled to Iran when the Taliban regained control in 2021. The Afghan team competing in Paris consists of three men and three women, selected by the Afghanistan Olympic Committee, which functions abroad. “I just want to represent the Afghan people with this flag, our culture. Our girls and women in Afghanistan are yearning for basic rights, education, and sports,” she stated.
Amnesty International has labeled the Taliban’s restrictions on women’s and girls’ rights in Afghanistan as “draconian.” Public stoning for adultery was reinstated in March. Yousofi expressed that women are not seen as human beings. “The ability to make decisions about their lives has been stripped away from them for the past two years. We are fighting for that,” she emphasized.
Among the six Afghan athletes in Paris, the Taliban acknowledges only the male competitors. “Only three athletes are representing Afghanistan,” stated Atal Mashwani, spokesman for the Taliban government’s sports directorate, in remarks to AFP last month, referring specifically to the male athletes. Despite potential tensions within the team, Yousofi noted that her male colleagues stand in support of her. “The situation for many in Afghanistan is dire,” she remarked. “While men face fewer challenges, they still encounter significant issues.”
Following the Taliban’s resurgence, the international sporting community endeavored to ensure safe passage for athletes potentially threatened by the regime. Yousofi mentioned that she wanted to remain in Kabul initially but was warned about her safety. “After leaving Afghanistan, I spent 10 days just searching for what I should do next,” she shared.
The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) collaborated with various governments to facilitate a visa for her and her family to move to Australia in 2022. AOC chief executive Matt Carroll stated that her visa in Iran was merely temporary, and a possible return to Afghanistan would pose extreme risks. “I must admit, I’ve never worked in this space before – getting individuals evacuated from countries,” the sports administrator noted.
The Paris Games advocate gender equality, aiming for a 50% representation of women among the competing athletes. Still recovering from the race due to a combination of exertion and a dairy allergy, Yousofi was queried about her views on that initiative. She stated, “In my perspective, I already perceive gender equality,” emphasizing that it’s an area for others to contemplate.
“Those who do not embrace this message believe they can dictate it for everyone else. That’s not their prerogative,” she expressed. “This message is meant for them.”
