Masomah ALI ZADA

Originally from Afghanistan, Masomah spent her early years in exile in Iran. Following her return to Kabul, she went to high school and university, studying sports. In the meantime, she worked as a sports teacher and started cycling with other young women despite facing disapproval. Her cycling group eventually gained some prominence in Afghanistan, and she was invited to join the national cycling team.

In 2017, the pressures regarding her being a cyclist became unbearable, and she left Afghanistan with her family claiming asylum in France. Alongside her training, she studied civil engineering at university in Lille. Franco-German TV channel Arte produced a documentary called “Les Petites Reines de Kaboul” featuring Masomah and her fellow athletes.

Masomah was a member of the IOC Refugee Olympic Team for Tokyo 2020 and participated in the time trial event. She became a member of the IOC Athletes’ Commission in 2022. For Paris 2024 she became the first-ever refugee to serve as Chef de Mission for the Refugee Olympic Team.