Paris Olympics: Kimia Yousofi to ‘represent stolen dreams’ of Afghan women at third Games
- Afghanistan’s flag bearer in Tokyo, who has been based in Australia since 2022, honoured to represent ‘the girls of my homeland once again’
Afghan sprinter Kimia Yousofi is preparing to compete at her third Olympics after being selected for the Paris Games from her training base in Australia.
Yousofi, Afghanistan’s flag bearer at the opening ceremony for the Olympics in Tokyo, has been living in Australia since 2022.
The Australian Olympic Committee on Tuesday congratulated Yousofi on her selection for the women’s 100-metre sprint.
“It’s an honour to represent the girls of my homeland once again,” she said in a statement released by the Australian committee. “Girls and women who have been deprived of basic rights, including education, which is the most important one.
“I represent the stolen dreams and aspirations of these women. Those who don’t have the authority to make decisions as free human beings – they don’t even have the permission to enter a park.”
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She said she’s “deeply grateful to all those who have stood by me on this journey and made this possible … who helped us for every step, for coming to Australia and joining together and chasing our dreams and making a new life”.