Women Flee Taliban Horrors and End Up Creating History at Cycling Championships

In a remarkable turn of events, history will be made at the UCI Cycling World Championships in Glasgow. Two brave Afghan women cyclists take the stage to represent their country for the first time. Arefa, 24, and Mina, 22, have overcome enormous challenges, fleeing the war-torn country to pursue their dreams in the world of cycling.

Breaking Barriers and Journey to Glasgow

Arefa and Mina’s path to the UCI Cycling World Championships has been filled with hardship and determination. In the wake of the Taliban’s takeover, Afghan women and girls were banned from participating in sports. This realistically meant that their dreams of competing on an international stage were shattered. But Arefa and Mina refused to be confined by these restrictions and decided to take a bold step towards a brighter future.

“When the Taliban came to the country everything was banned for girls, every day, one more thing we couldn’t do. It was difficult to leave our country, our families, our friends, our future,” Mina told Sky News

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Leaving everything behind, they arrived in the UK in October 2022. They sought safety and an opportunity to pursue their passion for cycling. As refugees, they faced the challenges of adapting to a new country, far from their families and familiar surroundings. Hiding in fear for a year, they found solace and support in their coach, James Hey.

Mina and Arefa’s Path Ahead

James recognized their potential and dedicatedly trained them in his small cycling business. “Mina and Arefa had great potential,” James states.

Under Hey’s guidance, Arefa and Mina honed their skills and quickly made strides as professional cyclists. The coach provided them with bikes, and the duo poured their heart and soul into rigorous training at a local park, preparing for the coveted UCI World Cycling Championships.

“After much work, we have now been invited to participate in the UCI World Cycling Championships in Glasgow.” 

Their terrifying journey of migrating to a new country altogether to being invited to participate in the World Cycling Championships is borderline unprecedented. Obviously, they didn’t believe anything when they saw the invite.

“Their initial response was one of disbelief. Going from a province where they used to dress up as men to now being on the world stage. It’s a phenomenal story” comments Hey. They have enlisted the help of sport psychologist Maria Jacobs to help them on their journey.

In her interview with Sky, she states “The fundamental work I am doing, is re-building. They are excited, they are already talking about the world championships, they are already talking about the Olympics.” 

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