Fleeing The Taliban, Afghan B-Girl Prepares For Breaking Debut At Paris Olympics

Afghan refugee b-girl Manizhan Talash is ready to shine on her debut at the Paris Olympics, where breaking will be held for the first time.

After fleeing the Taliban three years ago, Talash, 21 now, trains in Madrid to prepare to compete in the Refugee Team in a first for the sport.

Dancing for a young girl in Afghanistan is hard, she told Reuters on Monday (June 11), adding she would not be alive there pursuing her passion.

The breakdancer said going to the Olympics is her dream, although she would have loved to defend Afghan colours at the French Games.

B-girl Talash, as she is known, trains both physical and technical skills six days per week to be at the level of the highest competition.

Breaking, an urban dance style that originated in the United States in the 1970s, was added by the International Olympic Committee to the Paris Games in 2024 in an effort to attract a younger, more urban audience.