As a young girl living under hardline Islamist Taliban rule, Mahboba Ahdyar could only run around the small courtyard of her house in the Afghan capital. Now she is getting set to race in the Olympic Games.

Ahdyar is the only woman among four Afghans due to represent the war-torn country at August's Beijing Olympics and the slightly built 19-year-old 1,500 metre runner stands little chance of a medal.

Competing, however, is more about pride and showing the world what Afghan women can do.

Image: Mehbooba Ahadyar trains at the Kabul Olympic national stadium in Kabul, Afghanistan

Photographs: Getty Images | Text: Reuters

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