Refugee Athletes Who
Changed Sports Forever

Refugee Story

Fled Damascus in 2015 at age 17. When her overcrowded dinghy’s engine died in the Aegean Sea, she jumped in and pushed it for 3 hours, saving 20 lives. Arrived in Berlin as a refugee and found a pool within weeks.

Achievement

Competed in two Olympic Games (Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020) on the Refugee Olympic Team. Carried the Olympic flag at the Tokyo opening ceremony. Youngest-ever UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador.

Refugee Story

Abducted by soldiers at age 6 during the Second Sudanese Civil War. Escaped a rebel camp, spent 10 years in a Kenyan refugee camp, and was resettled in the United States at 16 through Catholic Charities.

Achievement

Carried the US flag at the 2008 Beijing Olympics opening ceremony. Two-time Olympian (2008, 2012). Five-time US national champion in the 5000m.

Refugee Story

While Tegla is Kenyan, not a refugee herself, she became the driving force behind refugee athletics. As a distance running legend, she used her platform to create training camps for displaced athletes across East Africa.

Achievement

Former marathon world record holder. Chef de Mission for the Refugee Olympic Teams at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. Founded the Tegla Loroupe Peace Foundation, which trains refugee athletes.

Refugee Story

Lost 8 of his 11 siblings to the Sudanese civil war. Fled at age 8, spent years in refugee camps, and eventually made it to the United States. Had no country to represent when South Sudan gained independence just before the 2012 Olympics.

Achievement

Competed in the 2012 London Olympics marathon under the Olympic flag as an Independent Olympic Athlete — one of only four athletes to ever do so. Ran a 2:19 marathon.

Refugee Story

Fled the South Sudanese civil war at age 10, walking for weeks to reach the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya. Discovered running in the camp and was identified by Tegla Loroupe’s program.

Achievement

Member of the inaugural Refugee Olympic Team at Rio 2016, competing in the 800m. Became one of the most visible faces of the refugee crisis in sports.

Refugee Story

Fled South Sudan as a child during the civil war and grew up in the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya. Never ran competitively until Tegla Loroupe’s foundation discovered her talent.

Achievement

Member of the inaugural Refugee Olympic Team at Rio 2016. Carried the flag for the Refugee Olympic Team at the opening ceremony — the first person ever to do so.

Refugee Story

Orphaned during the civil war in the DRC. Found refuge in a judo academy that took in war orphans. During the 2013 World Judo Championships in Rio, he defected from the Congolese team and sought asylum in Brazil.

Achievement

Member of the Refugee Olympic Team at Rio 2016. Competed in judo at 90kg in the same city where he had sought asylum three years earlier.

Refugee Story

Separated from his family during the South Sudanese civil war at a young age. Grew up in the Kakuma refugee camp and was selected by Tegla Loroupe’s training program.

Achievement

Member of the inaugural Refugee Olympic Team at Rio 2016, competing in the 400m. One of the youngest members of the team.

Refugee Story

A nationally ranked badminton player in Syria who fled the civil war in 2015 and resettled in the Netherlands. Rebuilt his career from scratch in a new country with no federation support.

Achievement

Member of the Refugee Olympic Team at Tokyo 2020. Competed in badminton and became a symbol of Syrian athletic talent displaced by war.

Refugee Story

A former Iranian national karate team member who fled Iran due to political persecution. Sought asylum in Canada and rebuilt his competitive career without national federation backing.

Achievement

Competed on the Refugee Olympic Team at Tokyo 2020 in karate. One of the first refugee athletes to compete in an Olympic combat sport debut event.

Refugee Story

Represented Cameroon internationally in weightlifting but sought asylum in the UK after experiencing political persecution. Became homeless and struggled with depression before finding support and returning to the sport.

Achievement

Member of the Refugee Olympic Team at Tokyo 2020. Also a mental health nurse in the UK — one of the few Olympic athletes working on the front lines of healthcare.

Refugee Story

Fled South Sudan as a young girl and grew up in the Kakuma refugee camp. Had never seen a running track before joining Tegla Loroupe’s refugee training program.

Achievement

Member of the inaugural Refugee Olympic Team at Rio 2016, competing in the 1500m. One of the original ten refugee Olympians who made history.

Refugee Story

Fled South Sudan during the civil war and arrived at the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya. A cattle herder who had never trained formally before being discovered by Tegla Loroupe’s program.

Achievement

Member of the inaugural Refugee Olympic Team at Rio 2016, competing in the 1500m. Two-time refugee Olympian (Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020).

Refugee Story

Born in Cameroon and raised in the UK. Despite living in Britain since age 11, she was denied British citizenship due to immigration complexities and could not represent Team GB.

Achievement

Won a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics on the Refugee Olympic Team — the first-ever Olympic medal won by a refugee athlete. Made history in the ring.

Refugee Story

Grew up in Afghanistan where women cycling was forbidden and faced threats and violence. Fled to France as a refugee and rebuilt her cycling career from zero with borrowed equipment.

Achievement

Member of the Refugee Olympic Team at Tokyo 2020, competing in road cycling. One of the first Afghan women to compete in the Olympics as a refugee.