Fariba Hashimi's success story may serve as inspiration to Afghans around the world. But her daring escape from the Islamist Taliban makes for an even more compelling story.

After the return of the Taliban regime five years ago, Hashimi started training in disguise, as a man, in Afghanistan to avoid being flagged by the hardline rulers of the nation.

Women not adhering to the strict dress code imposed by the Islamist rulers of the country and their stringent social behavior guidelines — including a ban for all females participating in sports — risk serious reprisals in Afghanistan.

UN Women and Human Rights Watch speak of "gender apartheid" in the country and say that women's rights in the Central Asian country are the worst in the world.

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Inspiring Afghan women to pursue their dreams

The 23-year-old cyclist meanwhile described her medal win as "something special," which she hopes will inspire other women in Afghanistan to do their utmost to follow their dreams too.

"I was born inside a country where the women who dream are getting attacked, and I'm really happy that I have fought against that," she said.

"I hope that the next generation will come here and represent their country without any fear," she explained, stressing that at the moment "in Afghanistan, this kind of freedom does not exist."

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Fighting the Taliban ideology through sports

Hashimi's medal win in the women's road race in Nagoya, Japan, on September 22 came on the heels of her finish in seventh place in the women's individual time trial at the end of last week.

"This silver medal [demonstrates] a lot of resilience from Afghan women," she said, adding that she knew she was not alone in her wish to see the authoritarian leadership of her country — and of other repressive nations — removed.

"I know that behind me millions of women, from many countries, have the same dream and they are standing with me."

However, she also remembers the many hardships it took for her to get to this success.

Attacked — for riding a bike

Hashimi told the news agency Reuters that she would have to dodge stones being thrown at her while riding her bike in Afghanistan's northern Faryab Province.

Her father even told her that she might be risking her life — while also supporting her decision to follow her dreams.

"I sometimes had a big stone thrown at my head. People were throwing bottles at me. They were trying to make us go home by being aggressive and attacking us," she explained while highlighting that despite everything, she still loved her country:

"I had a really bad time but I'm not saying my people are bad. We've got such a wonderful country. But the mentality is different."

Eventually, she decided to disguise herself as a boy to avoid such attacks.

"I always dressed as a man to go to training, wearing two or three different masks so ‌people would not recognize or attack me," she said, adding that the Taliban "took away our freedom."

"To follow my dream, I escaped from my country. I escaped from the stones of the people."

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Separated from family for six years

Hashimi is now based in Italy, where she focuses on training for championships around the world.

Her escape to the European nation was made possible with the help of former world cycling champion Alessandra Cappellotto, who supported the Afghan athlete in building a new life far away from the repression she faced in her home country.

However, her heart remains in Afghanistan: "It is sad that I can't live in my country. I haven't seen my family for such a long time," she told Reuters.

"In the future, I'm really hoping to change some things inside my country. It is my big dream to come back and inspire my people."

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Winning international competitions

Hashimi's interest in cycling first started when she was 15 years old; her sister Yulduz was already an internationally competitive cyclist, and inspired Hashimi to also get into the sport.

"I felt like a bird who could fly," she says of her discovery of the sport.

Hashimi and her sister became a team, representing the spirit of Afghan women around the world in major championships. The two competed at the Paris Olympic Games two years ago, and are planning to take part at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics too.

"I never want to give up," Hashimi said.

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with Reuters