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PARIS 2024 breakdancer Manizha Talash was controversially disqualified seconds into her routine on Friday.
It followed a political statement from the Olympian regarding women’s rights in Afghanistan.
Afghan women, bearing the brunt of Taliban tyranny, show incredible resilience. Manizha Talash’s Olympic debut, marked by her cape and a powerful statement, symbolizes hope amid personal loss and Taliban threats.
Free Afghan Women 
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Talash was disqualified for making a political statement about her homeland of AfghanistanGetty
Talash was controversially disqualified at Paris 2024Alamy
Talash competed for the refugee team in the breakdancing eventEPA
Talash sent a message raising awareness for women’s rights in AfghanistanRexThe Afghan competitor, who was competing as B-Girl Talash, was taking part in the Olympic debut of the dance sport as part of the refugee team at Urban Park.
The 21-year-old fled from her homeland in 2021 following the return of the Taliban who reinstated their repressive regime and so she settled in Spain with her brother.
And the dancer wanted to raise awareness of the political situation in her country during her performance as she removed her jumper to reveal a blue cape that read “Free Afghan Women”.
The performer received a loud roar of approval from the live Paris 2024 crowd as well as an applause from her Dutch opponent India Sardjoe and later insisted she wanted to share a positive message.
Talash explained: “‘I wanted to show people what is possible.”
However, that led to a disqualification as it went against the regulations of the World DanceSport Federation who viewed it as “displaying a political slogan”.
The rules strictly prohibit athletes from making political statements at the Olympics.
That is despite the International Olympic Committee easing these restrictions in recent years.
What are the key moves of breaking and how is it judged?
THERE are five key fundamentals to look out for from the breakers at the Paris 2024 Olympics:
TOP ROCK
This is stand-up dancing, routines always start with this and feature cross-step and Salsa step.
FOOTWORK
When breakers are down on all fours from a low squat position, doing footwork patterns and steps including hooks and kicks.
GO DOWNS
This is the transition from Top Rock to Footwork, including the Knee Switch and Rock Drop.
FREEZES
Where breakers hold a position or pose during a routine, acting as a pause or ‘comma’ before going again – from the simple to the extraordinary.
POWER MOVES
These are the big wow moves, the ultimate crowd-pleasers, the impressive show-stoppers: flicks, tricks, headspins, air flares, munchmills or windmills.
B-Boys and B-Girls are judged on three categories…
- Body – this is the physical aspect and incorporates the execution and the flow of the dance by the breakers
- Soul – this is the interpretation aspect, how the breakers interpret the music, the competition, the specific battle, the room and how they display their character and bounce off the energy
- Mind – this is the artistic aspect, taking into consideration the creativity of the breakers
The Taliban’s return led to a dramatic decrease of women’s rights as female citizens have since been prohibited from attending secondary school and university as well as going to public parks.
Women were also disallowed from playing sports and so several female athletes’ homes were raided.
That measure led to Talash’s breakdancing club being forced to shut down.
And she previously opened up on death threats she received in Afghanistan before she fled her country.
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