Afghan Women’s Sports Archive

A cultural and historical project to create a complete, multimedia, physical and digital archive of Afghan women’s sporting history.

less than 1% of global recorded history is about women.

Under the first Taliban regime, photographs, books, and records were systematically destroyed, erasing documented history, and especially women’s stories. Yet Afghan women defied cultural norms and gender barriers, making their mark in sports across the country.

This archive preserves their legacy through multimedia storytelling and oral histories in seven post-Taliban-era sports. We're also gathering stories from para-athletes through the Afghan Para Federation, ensuring their voices are part of this record.

These stories offer more than inspiration. They protect a fuller, truer account of Afghan women’s lives. They show future generations what’s possible, and why it matters.

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The Sports

  • Cycling

  • Skateboarding

  • Skiing and Snowboarding

  • Mountaineering

  • Football

  • Para-Athletics

  • Judo

  • Cricket

  • Basketball

  • Running

  • Taekwondo

  • Swimming

  • Boxing

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Imagine an archive where every woman’s story is collected, bound, and presented aS an individual book.

The archive is a 5-10 year project collecting oral histories from the cyclists and witness statements from the those who met them, supported them, and witnessed their journey. We are building a physical archive of the extensive film, photography, media, and audio interviews that documented Afghan cyclists, footballers, mountaineers, and skiers. We are also collecting as many artifacts as possible to preserve for future generations. Many have been lost due to the evacuations, but that is part of the recovery process.

If every life is its own universe, then the least that we can do as an archive is recognize the individuality of each woman beyond the sport. The archive is a living, breathing physical space as unique as the women themselves. a place to hold history for future generations and to hold space for continued research and storytelling in the present.

The Archive Team

  • Shannon Galpin

    Archive Production and Founder of Combat Apathy

  • Tahera Shayangan

    Cycling Archive Lead and Oral History Lead

  • Hajar Abulfazl

    Football Archive Lead and NonProfit Sponsor, Tawana Organization

  • Dr. Nida Ahmed

    Director of Research

  • Friba Rezayee

    Judo Archive Lead

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