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Manizha Talash

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Manizha Talash
Personal information
NationalityAfghan
Born2002 (age 21–22)
Home townKabul, Afghanistan
Sport
SportBreakdancing
TeamRefugee Olympic Team

Manizha Talash (Persian: منیژه تلاش; born 2002), known competitively as b-girl Talash, is an Afghan breakdancer. She competed at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris as a member of the IOC Refugee Olympic Team.

Biography

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Talash was born in 2002 and grew up in Kabul, Afghanistan.[1] She first discovered breakdancing at age 17 through a Facebook video.[2] She said that "When I saw a video online of a man just spinning over his head ... I immediately told myself: 'That's what I want to do with my life!'"[3] She was able to get in contact with the man in the video and joined a breakdancing club in Kabul, called Superiors Crew, where she was one of 56 members and the only girl.[2][3][4]

Talash was described by media sources as "Afghanistan's first female breakdancer", and she faced challenges as dancing is viewed negatively by many in Afghanistan.[3][5][6] She continued breakdancing despite receiving opposition from her family and a number of death threats; her club was the target of bombings three times, with two going off and causing multiple deaths.[2][3][7] The third was an attempted suicide bombing that was stopped by the police.[2] Afterwards, the club was ordered to close for being a "major threat".[3] Despite the difficulties, when asked whether she ever considered stopping, she replied: "I love breaking too much for that!"[1]

After the Taliban took over Afghanistan in August 2021 and outlawed dancing for being "un-Islamic", Talash and her younger brother[4] crossed over to Pakistan, where they lived for one year.[2][3] She then moved to Spain as a refugee with her brother[4] and six other members of her breakdancing club.[3]

In 2024, through a friend, Talash was discovered by the IOC Refugee Olympic Team and was selected for the 2024 Summer Olympics, which featured the debut of breakdancing.[2][3] She competed in the Olympics, and wore a cape with the phrase "Free Afghan Women" on it in the pre-qualifier round.[8][9][10] She lost the round 0-3 to India Sardjoe from the Netherlands, before the result was updated to her being disqualified for displaying a political slogan, which is a violation of rule 50 of the Olympic Charter.[11][12]

Personal life

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Talash learned Spanish after moving to Madrid in 2022. Her mother, who had been living in Afghanistan, moved to Spain to rejoin Talash and her brother in 2024. Talash enjoys dyeing her hair and is working on a streetwear fashion line inspired by traditional Afghan designs.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Manizha Talash". Olympics.com.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Zaccardi, Nick (11 June 2024). "Refugee Olympic Team athlete Manizha Talash on leaving Afghanistan to pursue breaking". NBC Sports.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Kallas, Fernando (11 June 2024). "Afghanistan's first female breakdancer ready for Olympic dream". Reuters.
  4. ^ a b c d Satpathy, Anushka (22 June 2024). "At 18, Manizha Talash had to flee Afghanistan. Now, she's flying to the Olympics to breakdance". Vogue India. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  5. ^ "Refugee Olympic Team to send message of hope at Paris Games". United Nations. 2 May 2024.
  6. ^ Goitia, Fernando (3 August 2021). "El terror de la primera 'break dancer' afgana" [The terror of the first Afghan break dancer]. La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish).
  7. ^ "Afghanistan's first female breakdancer sets sights on Paris Olympics". The Business Standard. Reuters. 28 January 2021.
  8. ^ "Manizha Talash Wore a "Free Afghan Women" Cape During Olympics Breakdancing". Teen Vogue. 9 August 2024. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  9. ^ Cooper, Mark. "B-girll Talash reveals 'Free Afghan Women' cape during Olympic performance". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  10. ^ "Breaking competitor unveils 'Free Afghan Women' cape during Olympic performance". The Independent. 9 August 2024. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  11. ^ Schad, Tom. "Refugee breaker disqualified for wearing 'Free Afghan Women' cape at Paris Olympics". USA TODAY. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  12. ^ "Olympics breaking: Refugee b-girl Talash wears slogan at Games". BBC Sport. 9 August 2024. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
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