Inspiring stories of the Olympic team of refugees

For the first time in Olympic history in the competition involved a team consisting of refugees. Ten athletes competing in judo, swimming and track and field. They became a symbol of hope for refugees around the world.

The stadium Maracana, where was held the opening of the Olympics, the refugees left the team under a storm of applause. Two athletes from the team have already managed to attract the attention during presentations: Yousra Mardini, who had excelled in the 100-meter heats on Saturday and Tuesday, and Rami Anis, pobivshy personal best in Freestyle. Then rostrum applauded him standing.

Olympic Team athletes of refugees at the opening of the Olympic Games in Rio.

Rami Anis, a swimmer from Syria

25-year-old native of Aleppo has been diving for 14 years. Due to the civil war Anisa family fled to Istanbul. There Rami continued training. He did not have the opportunity to participate in international competitions because of the lack of Turkish citizenship.

Anis left Turkey and swam across the sea on a boat, successfully reaching the Greek shores. Then he sought asylum in Belgium. From Syria, he took with him only a bag in which there were only two jackets, two shirts and two pairs of pants.

I was hoping to stay in Turkey a couple of months, and then come back to their home country.

Rami is determined to get to the Olympics in 2020, but in the national team of Syria.

Yeh Pur Biel, athlete from South Sudan

Yeh fled Sudan during the civil war. Man alone has managed to reach refugee camps in Kenya. There he started playing football and began to run. The camp conditions are not present. There is not even shoes.

His first appearance on the Olympic track will take place on 12 August.

Even if you do not take gold or silver, I can show that to be a refugee - not to be helpless.

Yolande Bukas Mabika, judoka from the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Mabika do not remember the details of the escape from the DRC. In the region were fighting and she was separated from the family. She came to the center for refugee children in Kinshasa and there became involved in judo.

I had to part with the family, because of this, I cried a lot. I was engaged in judo to become stronger.

James Niang Chiendzhek, athlete from South Sudan

Due to the wrong shoes, we had a lot of injuries.

James fled Sudan at the age of 13 years, to be abducted by militants, who then picked up the boys for military camps. He was in Kenya, in a refugee camp, in the same place I went to school and started running.

My dream - to show good results at the Olympics and just helping people. Many people supported me, and now I want to support those who need it.

Yousra Mardini, swimmer from Syria

athlete has won the hearts of the audience after his speech Saturday. Back in Damascus, mired in a war, it was considered a promising swimmer. At age 18, she and her sister had to leave their home country, pass through Lebanon and Turkey, before they were granted asylum in Greece.

She and another 20 refugees sailed on a boat from the Turkish coast, when the motor broke down. The vessel is intended for six people, and could not stand the load. The boat could easily capsize. To avoid this, Yousra, her sister Sarah and two strong swimmers jumped overboard and towing a boat with people to the Lesbos. Yusra now lives in Berlin. Scary, when you, as a swimmer, you might die in the water. The water that you know best.

Rose Natick curl, athlete from South Sudan

Rose fled Sudan in 10 years, since she lives in a refugee camp, "Kakuma", which is located in Kenya. She began to seriously pursue a run back in school, but I could do it in a special sports shoes only a year ago. Prior to that, she regularly ran a distance of 10 kilometers barefoot.

It is still in Kenya, though her parents returned to South Sudan.

My main dream - to help my parents, sisters and brothers, and after - to support my countrymen.

Jonas Kindi, a marathon runner from Ethiopia

36-year-old Jonas Kinda most senior on the team. He escaped from Ethiopia and is now under special protection in Luxembourg.

I left my country because of the policy. There are many difficulties, moral and economic.

In Luxembourg Kinda she works as a taxi driver.

Angelina Nada Lohalit, athlete from South Sudan

Angelina ran out of the house in Southern Sudan when she was 6 years old. Since then, she has not seen her parents. Her main motivation in these games - to find them and help them. The girl is 21 years old, she is now living in a refugee camp, "Kakuma" in Kenya. When Lohalit left home, she immediately settled there - went to school and work. On Saturday she will be competing in the swim of 1, 5 kilometers.

in half Misenga, judoka from the Democratic Republic of the Congo

At 9 years old in half fled from the fighting in the Congo. Then he lost his mother and has ceased to maintain contact with the family. After 8 days they found him in the woods and taken to Kinshasa. For the first time on judo in half hit the center for refugee children and has since said that the sport changed his life. Later he fled from Kinshasa and received refugee status in Brazil. When the young man came to the World Cup in 2013, the coach left him and three other athletes in a hotel without food and money for four days. Then they ran away and began to seek shelter. Misenga twice champion of Africa.

I want to be part of the Olympic team of the refugee to show that refugees can make important things. I want to give them hope.

Popolo will play on Wednesday in the weight category up to 90 kg.

Paulo Amotun Lokoro, long-distance runner from South Sudan

Lokoro was a shepherd, his village was located on the plains. He left Sudan because of the military conflict in the region.

We were hiding in the bush and remained there for a long time. Food was not eaten fruit.

At 24, Paulo found his mother in the camp "Kakuma". Then I began jogging.

I know I'm running for the people. I was one of those refugees from the camp, and I was able to achieve something.