Explorations

Championing the right to empowerment

The journey of Kimia Yousofi at the Paris Olympics provided much food for thought on the concepts of platform, leadership, and values. In today’s world, having a platform seems to be everything. Whether the content is authentic or not, few seem to care. You can be uninformed – often the case – but if you have a platform, doors open. You’re in!

Unfortunately, the contemporary idea of a platform often equates to a superficial social media presence. However, we believe that a true platform and leadership are about much more than showcasing a new handbag, your body, or spewing hate towards anyone who doesn’t fit the mainstream mould.

This is why Kimia Yousofi has become one of our favourite athletes: she used the Olympic platform to express her sense of leadership and values.

Kimia Yousofi’s Paris 2024 Olympics inspiring experience

At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Kimia Yousofi ran the slowest time in her preliminary round of the women’s 100m competition. Having already competed in Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo, this was her third Olympics. Yousofi finished with a time of 13.42 seconds, slower than the 13.29 she ran in Tokyo.

Most athletes might feel disappointed at this point, but for Yousofi, this race was just the beginning. As the competition concludes, she removes the bib pinned to the back of her jersey, proudly displaying the red, green, and black emblem of Afghanistan. Then, she turns the bib around, eager to show the camera what is written on the other side. It’s crucial that people see it.

“Education, Sport, Our Right,” it reads.

“Of course, the Olympic Games are a big dream for every athlete, not just for me. I’ve competed in the Tokyo Olympics and the Rio Olympics. But back then, I was running just for myself, because I loved to run. Now, I’m here for Afghanistan’s girls. I almost forgot my dream. I almost forgot everything. And I worked hard for three years, but all of this is for Afghanistan’s girls,” she says.

“I was in Kabul when the Taliban came. And I wanted to stay because I felt I belonged to this country. My people needed me. But many told me they couldn’t guarantee my safety. I was a woman with a public face because I had carried the flag of Afghanistan just a few days before. So I had to flee. I went first to Iran, and then Australia helped me get a visa to go there,” she added.

Ever since the Taliban took over the country, girls have been banned from even studying. “Our girls in Afghanistan, our women, want their basic rights—education, the ability to play sports. They want to be treated as human beings. They want to be able to decide what to do with their lives. These rights have been taken away from them for the last three years. I’m fighting for that.”

Kimia Yousofi and women’s rights

Despite not being in peak physical condition, Yousofi ran. Although she had prepared well for the Olympics, she developed an allergy in the weeks leading up to the event and then injured her right knee just before the race. “My knee was really sore, but I told myself I’m just going to run. I kept icing it and took pain tablets to manage the pain. But I had to run.”

She will do all of this to remind Afghan girls that there is another world out there. “I have a message for Afghan girls. Look for opportunities, and then use them. Even if you get a small one, use it. Don’t give up. Don’t let others make your decisions for you,” she says.

So, if having a platform is the most important thing today, she secured a powerful one! Platform, leadership, and values – all at once. Kimia Yousofi won!