Rio 2016: Five refugees athletes arrive for Olympics

Five South Sudanese athletes living as refugees in a UN camp in Kenya arrived today (Jul. 29) to Rio de Janeiro to take part in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Three men and two women, who live in the Kakuma camp, will compete in athletics events for the Olympic refugee team.

Anjelina Nada Lohalith, in the women's category, and Paulo Amotum Lokoro, in the men's category, will both compete in the 1,500 meters. Rose Nathik Lkonyen will compete in the women's 800-meter, and Yiech Pur Biel in the men's. While James Nyang Chiengjiek will compete in the men's 400-meters. Before coming to Rio, they went through a training season in Nairobi, Kenya.

For the first time, an Olympic refugee team will be formed and ten athletes will compete in Rio 2016.

In addition to the newcomers aforementioned and the Congolese judokas, Yolande Mabika (women's judo, middleweight) and Popole Misenga (men's judo, middleweight), who live in Rio, the athletes of the refugee team come from Syria and Ethiopia.

"This participation in the Olympics is good because, firstly, as an athlete, running makes me feel accomplished. Second, we will send a message to the world: even though we are refugees, we are able to do anything," said Yiech Pur Biel, when he landed.

The Syrian swimmers, Ramis Anis (men's 100-meter freestyle and 100-meter butterfly) and Yusra Mardini (women's 100-meter butterfly), who live in Europe, had also arrived in Rio. The only team's athlete who has not arrived in the city yet is Ethiopian Yonas Kinde, who will compete in the marathon.

Translated by Amarílis Anchieta