Breaking taboos: Afghanistan's first B-girl lives her Olympic dream
6 months, 1 week ago

Breaking taboos: Afghanistan's first B-girl lives her Olympic dream

China Daily  

Afghan B-girl Manizha Talash works with her coach, David Vento, in Madrid on Tuesday. REUTERS MADRID — Three years after she fled Afghanistan so she could dedicate her life to the new Olympic sport of breaking, Manizha Talash is preparing to compete at the Paris Games as part of the Refugee Team. "I would love to go and compete with the Afghan team alongside other girls, but we all know that's just impossible," Talash told reporters as she got ready to train in a public square in Madrid's Vallecas neighborhood. REUTERS Talash said that she spent a year in Pakistan before being granted refugee status in Spain, alongside six other members of her crew who were spread around the country. She kept training, but it wasn't until early 2024 that, thanks to the efforts of friends, the Refugee Olympic Team found Talash, brought her to Madrid and Around the same time, her mother, two brothers and sister were granted refugee status, and were able to join her in Madrid, giving Talash an extra shot of energy.

Taliban Olympic Reuters Madrid Breaking Kabul Talash  dream  madrid  paris  women  talash  taliban  olympic  breaking  afghanistans  bgirl  refugee  lives  im  training  taboos

History of this topic

Cringy moves and a white b-girl’s durag prompt questions about Olympic breaking’s authenticity
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Cringy moves and a white b-girl’s durag prompt questions about Olympic breaking’s authenticity

Associated Press  

PARIS — From the Australian b-girl with the meme-worthy “kangaroo” dance move to the silver-medal winning Lithuanian in a durag, breaking’s Olympic debut had a few moments that raised questions from viewers about whether the essence of the hip-hop art form was captured at the Paris Games. “What I bring is creativity.” Clips of her routine have gone viral on …

Afghan refugee breaker disqualified for wearing ‘Free Afghan Women’ cape at Paris Olympics
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Afghan refugee breaker disqualified for wearing ‘Free Afghan Women’ cape at Paris Olympics

Associated Press  

PARIS — Refugee breaker Manizha Talash, or “b-girl Talash,” was disqualified from the first ever Olympic breaking competition on Friday after she wore a cape that said “Free Afghan Women” during her pre-qualifier battle against India Sardjoe — known as “b-girl India.” The 21-year-old, originally from Afghanistan and representing the Olympic Refugee Team, lost in the pre-qualifier battle against Sardjoe …

With protests, talent, and ridicule Breaking’s Olympic debut points toward an uncertain future
4 months, 2 weeks ago

With protests, talent, and ridicule Breaking’s Olympic debut points toward an uncertain future

The Independent  

Sign up to our free sport newsletter for all the latest news on everything from cycling to boxing Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The only …

Breakdancer Manizha Talash reveals ‘Free Afghan Women’ cape during Olympic performance
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Breakdancer Manizha Talash reveals ‘Free Afghan Women’ cape during Olympic performance

New York Times  

An Olympic refugee team breakdancer used the first breaking battle in Olympic history to deliver a message to her home country. Manizha Talash, who was born in Afghanistan before fleeing the country in 2021 after the Taliban returned to power, removed her T-shirt in the middle of her third round Friday to reveal a bright blue cape with the words, …

First Afghan woman to compete internationally after Taliban takeover seeks Olympic gold in Paris
4 months, 2 weeks ago

First Afghan woman to compete internationally after Taliban takeover seeks Olympic gold in Paris

Associated Press  

PARIS — Zakia Khudadadi has spent most of her life breaking through glass ceilings. I want to show strength to all women and girls in Afghanistan.” Khudadadi is competing for the Refugee Paralympic Team, while other athletes are seeking medals under Afghanistan’s flag, such as Olympic sprinter Kimia Yousofi. The International Paralympic Committee originally issued a statement saying the Afghan …

Kimia Yousofi: Afghan Olympic sprinter sends powerful message to Taliban on women’s rights
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Kimia Yousofi: Afghan Olympic sprinter sends powerful message to Taliban on women’s rights

CNN  

CNN — For Kimia Yousofi, it was never about winning the gold. The Afghan sprinter may have finished last in her OIympic 100-meter heat, but her presence on the track in Paris sent a powerful message on women’s rights to the ruling Taliban. I can talk.” Afghanistan under Taliban rule is the most repressive country in the world for women’s …

Afghanistan’s first female Olympic breakdancer: ‘I want my big dream’
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Afghanistan’s first female Olympic breakdancer: ‘I want my big dream’

Al Jazeera  

Defiant breaker Manizha Talash says her spot in the Games shows the courage of Afghan girls, that ‘everyone can achieve their dreams, even if they are in a cage’. Chasing Olympic gold As a competitive sport, breakdancing is referred to as “breaking”, and it’s one of four new events debuting at this year’s Olympic Games in Paris. Talash will make …

Afghanistan sprinter uses Olympic trip to shine light on how women are treated in her country
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Afghanistan sprinter uses Olympic trip to shine light on how women are treated in her country

Associated Press  

SAINT-DENIS, France — To get a sense of the real race Afghanistan’s lone woman at the Olympic track meet is running, one only needed to look at the back of her bib. On it, in handwritten script, were the words, spelled Women and girls in Afghanistan have suffered immensely since Kimia Yousofi’s home country was taken over by the Taliban …

Afghanistan’s first female Olympian says women will not give up their liberties easily
3 years, 4 months ago

Afghanistan’s first female Olympian says women will not give up their liberties easily

CNN  

CNN — Friba Rezayee made history in 2004 when she became one of the first two Afghan women to compete at the Olympic Games. “Women who went to school, women who went to universities and women who played sports.” Born and raised in Afghanistan, Rezayee moved to Canada as a refugee in 2011 and has since set up a non-profit …

Discover Related