From a secret initiation into the world of cycling, enduring the indignities of being a female athlete to escaping the Taliban-ruled Afghanistan and realising their Olympic dreams, Fariba Hashimi and her sister Yulduz have traversed a remarkable journey. Fear was a constant companion for the Hashimi sisters in Faryab, a province in Afghanistan, where the Taliban has banned women from pursuing sports. Even before the Taliban usurped power in 2021 following the collapse of the Afghan National Security Forces and the fall of the government, life was not easy for Fariba and Yulduz.