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the Olympic journey of a Congolese athlete who took refuge in Brazil

Congolese judoka, Popole Misenga will represent the refugees this summer on the biggest sporting stage in the world, once again.

Member of the very first IOC Refugee Olympic Team at Rio 2016, Misenga reached the round of 16 in the -90kg category in judo, during which he only bows in front of Gwak Dong-han, world champion and future Olympic bronze medalist.

Fans of Rio, his adopted city, where he has been training since his asylum application in 2013, immediately adopt him, supporting him and chanting “Po-po-le! Po-po-le! ” during each of his fights at the Carioca Arena.

“I’m just happy to be here”, tell Misenga, 24 at the time, well aware of the hard road he took to get to Rio.

Popole Misenga was born on February 25, 1992 in Bukavu – one of the hardest hit areas during the Democratic Republic of Congo’s civil war from 1998 to 2002. Misenga had a normal childhood, until her mother was born. was murdered in 2001 during the war when he was only nine years old. It was then that the nightmarish life began for him.

“When you are a kid you need to have a family to advise you on what to do, but I didn’t have any. Judo helped me by bringing me serenity, discipline, a sense of commitment: everything ”, he declares.

But the young and talented judoka endures many persecutions and suffers heavy punishments.

Fearing for his life, Misenga decides to seek asylum and have the possibility of a better life in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he takes part in the World Judo Championships in 2013.

Despite a difficult start, things suddenly turn in his favor. Misenga thus obtained asylum in 2014 and can refocus on what he likes to do: judo.

Now 28, Misenga is training hard for the competition which kicks off July 23, 2021 in Tokyo.

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On June 8, 2021, the IOC announced its final selection of the athletes who will represent the Refugee Olympic team at the Tokyo Games. For the second time in Olympic history, this stateless delegation will try to win a medal in 12 sports, including karate, judo, cycling and athletics.

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