"They took everything from us" - From disguising herself as a man to train to almost conquering the Asian Games, how Fariba Hashimi has evolved into pro cycling
Cycling
Fariba Hashimi has turned a story marked by fear and persecution into one of the most powerful images in Afghan cycling. The 23-year-old rider, who as a teenager once dressed as a man to train, has just taken the silver medal in the women’s road race at the Asian Games.
Her story is closely tied to the situation of women in Afghanistan. After the Taliban returned to power in 2021, restrictions on women’s freedoms tightened further and sport slipped out of reach for many. For Hashimi, leaving the country became the only way to keep chasing her dream.
Before she left, the cyclist had already faced an extreme reality. Riding a bike could make her a target of insults and even assaults, so she sometimes dressed as a man to go out and train. Five years after her escape, she lives and prepares her seasons in Italy and continues to represent Afghanistan at major events.
Now, her Asian Games silver adds another chapter to a career that also includes her appearance at the Paris Olympics alongside her sister Yulduz, also a professional cyclist. The focus is already on Los Angeles 2028, a date both hope to contest again.
Fariba Hashimi at the Giro Donne
A medal against fear
“I can’t explain what I feel right now,” admitted Hashimi, in quotes reported by Marca, after stepping onto the podium. For the rider, the result goes beyond sport and answers the circumstances that shaped her youth. “I was born in a country where women who dream are attacked, and I am very happy to have fought against that.”
Hashimi began training with her sister Yulduz in Afghanistan, in a context where cycling as a woman could mean real risk. The situation eventually forced them to seek a way out of the country to continue their sporting careers and compete freely.
The Afghan rider refused to separate her individual success from the situation of millions of women who remain in her country. At the recent Asian Games, she placed second, conquering a medal that proves her worth in the sport.
“They took away our freedom, they took everything from us. This silver medal shows the great resilience of Afghan women, and I am very happy. I am not alone; I know millions of women in many countries share this dream and support me.”
Her arrival in Italy was made possible thanks to the help of former Italian world champion Alessandra Cappellotto, who worked to facilitate her exit from Afghanistan. Since then, Hashimi has been able to build her career in very different conditions and turn that escape into a chance to keep competing at the highest level. Currently, she races for Vini Fantini - Bepink, in cycling's second division, and was present at this year's Giro Donne.
The dream of returning to the Olympic Games
“I never want to give up, and I hope we can be there again in Los Angeles,” she said. At 23, Hashimi still has room to grow as a rider, but her story already transcends results and medals.
Her road from Afghanistan to an Asian podium also mirrors that of many athletes who were forced to leave their country to continue their careers. For Hashimi, however, competing under the Afghan flag still carries special meaning.
The silver won at the Asian Games is therefore far more than a sporting result. It is the symbol of a cyclist who once had to hide to ride a bike and who can now step onto an international podium representing her country without hiding who she is.
Javier RampeCycling Journalist
Javier Rampe is a sports analyst with more than 15 years of experience. He holds a degree in Economics from the University of Rome and a Diploma in Business Studies from the University of Cádiz. Despite coming from an academic background not particularly associated with cycling, his passion for both cycling and journalism was instilled in him from an early age. He grew up following Miguel Indurain and José María “El Chava” Jiménez. An admirer of Michael Robinson’s communication style and journalistic approach, he was inspired to pursue a degree in Journalism at the University of Buenos Aires, which he is currently completing.
He has always maintained close ties with the worlds of sport and culture, contributing from a young age to sports blogs and film and music review websites. His work has appeared in media outlets such as Cope, RAI, and Radio Con Vos. He is also the founder of the cycling-focused podcast El Contraanálisis and the football interview channel Días De Fútbol, dedicated to conversations with professional footballers.
In addition to his work at Ciclismoaldia, Javier has interviewed some of the most influential figures in modern cycling, including Alejandro Valverde and Tadej Pogačar, as well as key voices in anti-doping policy such as Alberto Yelmo, David Varillas, and Marcelo Milano. Marcos Maynar, in relation to the ‘Operación Ílex’ case, is also among the personalities he has interviewed. He enjoys conducting in-depth analysis of the cycling ecosystem and has attended major events such as Strade Bianche, the Vuelta a Andalucía, and Itzulia, as well as numerous national cyclo-cross races.
His background in economics, combined with extensive experience in marketing and corporate communications, drives his continuous study of positioning strategies and ensures that he always keeps his focus on crafting compelling and evocative headlines.
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