At just 16 years old, Tahora Ismaili, a taekwondo athlete and refugee from Afghanistan, is living an inspiring story of perseverance and hope for women and girls in her home country.

"I left my country when I was much younger, and I traveled a long path. I faced many difficult challenges on the way," she said. 

She was competing under the refugee flag at the European Youth Olympic Festival in Skopje, North Macedonia this year. For her it meant she was "seen" and her "voice was heard." 

Ehsan Naghibzadeh, a 35-year-old former Iranian national taekwondo athlete who is also a refugee, has been a great support for Ismaili. As a coach, he also sheds light on the significant hurdles encountered by refugee athletes, such as restrictions on continuing their athletic pursuits or limitations on travel.

Ismaili aspires to be a role model for others, saying she just wants to "keep going."