Masomah Ali Zada is a cyclist who studies at the Ecole Polytechnique de Lille. She was selected to the Refugee Olympic Team for this year's Tokyo Olympics. Having a special story, it is a great achievement in the life of this young woman to have been selected.
Who is Masomah Ali Zada?
Masomah Ali Zada is an Afghan cyclist who took refuge in France. She was born on March 11, 1996. At 25 years old, she has not lived an easy life. Despite everything, she managed to make a living from her passion. Indeed, she is originally from Afghanistan, she is part of a minority community of Shiites persecuted by the Taliban, the Hazaras. His family therefore chose exile. But when they arrived in Iran, after eight days of walking, they were not received with the title of refugee.
His career
It was in Iran, in the 2000s, that she learned to ride a bike. Back in her native country, she decided to learn Taekwondo. But, during her teenage years, she quickly returned to cycling and thus began her cycling career. After a race where she finished 6th, she joined the Afghan women's cycling team created by Sadiq Sadiqi. At the same time, she became a sports teacher. However, Afghanistan is one of the countries where women have few rights after the Taliban came to power. The Afghan women's team was then very frowned upon in their countries. For example, during the races, Masomah Ali Zada explains that the Afghans tried to stop them in every way: "threats, insults, throwing things at our paths". In general, it is very frowned upon to "wear sportswear and ride a bike". It is thanks to his father that Masomah Ali Zada was able to continue his dream. He was always behind her and encouraged her to become a woman who makes a difference. She has always dreamed of competing in the Olympics, and this year her dream comes true. We will be able to observe and support it during this great event.
A beautiful meeting
In 2016, Arte decided to make a documentary about female cyclists in Afghanistan entitled Les Petites Reines de Kabul. Masomah Ali Zada is one of those women along with her sister, Zahra. They are proposed by a group of Italian deputies for the Nobel Peace Prize and are received by the First Lady of Afghanistan and by the Embassy of France in Afghanistan. And as fate is well done, a lawyer from Orleans, Patrick Communal, comes across the documentary and decides to get in touch with them. He is the one who will help them to come to France and apply for political asylum. He will house them, help them with their studies. It quickly became a landmark for Masomah Ali Zada's family. In France, she also met Patrick's son, Thierry Communal. Thierry helped her a lot to adapt, as she says herself "it's my second family, here in Lille". Patrick Communal and Masomah Ali Zada released a book in 2018 entitled The Little Queen of Kabul. This book tells the story of Masomah Ali Zada and how she managed to pursue her dream despite the bans of her home country.
A message of freedom?
In short, Masomah Ali Zada is a Muslim woman from Afghanistan who took refuge in France and will participate in the Olympics this year. Her career is impressive, she becomes a role model for women who have seen their rights disappear, an example of a message of freedom. His participation in the Tokyo Olympics is one of the purposes of his message. It all started with a passion for sport. Today, it's much more than that, Masomah Ali Zada fights for the message she wants to convey: we must evolve, let women progress and try new things. A woman on a bike can do it. Finally, women must be free and they can do anything if they want. Her father accepted the fact that she rides a bike and supported her. Thus, she thinks that if her father did it for her, all fathers can do it too. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2DFWtVLZ0Q Very simply, Masomah Ali Zada and her sister, Zahra, are inspiring women who will continue to fight for their passion and for this beautiful message of freedom.
