An Olympic athlete competing in Breaking was disqualified after making a political statement for women’s rights in Afghanistan. This was the first year Breaking was part of the summer Olympic games.
Manizha Talas, a 21-year-old Olympic athlete competing in Breaking was disqualified from the Olympics on Friday after making a political statement advocating for women's rights in her home country. Talas, who performs under the name "Talash," was one of 37 athletes competing for the Refugee Olympic Team. She fled Afghanistan in 2021 when the Taliban regained control and while originally from Kabul, she now resides in Spain.
The Paris Olympics marked the first time that Breaking was included as an Olympic sport. Just seconds into her routine once her performance started, Talash removed her sweater to reveal a blue cape with the words "Free Afghan Women." The gesture was met with applause from the crowd. "I wanted to show people what is possible," Talash said regarding her actions.
However, shortly after her protest, Talash was disqualified. The World DanceSport Federation determined her actions to be "displaying a political slogan," a violation of Olympic rules despite the recent easing of restrictions by the International Olympic Committee. At the time of her disqualification, Talash had already been eliminated during the preliminary qualification stage.
Talash has previously spoken about receiving death threats in Afghanistan before fleeing the country. Under Taliban rule, women have been barred from attending universities, visiting parks, and participating in sports. Female athletes have faced persecution, with many having their homes raided. Talash's breakdancing club in Afghanistan was forced to close due to these restrictions, according to the Daily Mail.
