Photo credit, Getty Images
Arno Yafunga Botay was six years old when his family fled the Democratic Republic of Congo after threats against his father's life culminated in an attack on their home that claimed the life of his seven-month-old sibling.
After a stay in the Kakuma refugee camp, in northwest Kenya, the family settled in Nairobi. There, Arno watched his father Arnold practice judo and eventually asked him to teach him the sport.
After successfully completing the trials in East Africa, he will represent the Refugee Olympic team in the under-55kg category at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
“I didn't expect to be selected,” the 15-year-old told BBC Sport Africa.
“I was so excited. I cried with joy. »
This is the first time that a refugee team will participate in the Youth Games.
“It means a lot to me to represent other refugees, to represent my community,” added Yafunga Botay.
The family has lived in Kenya since they were forced to leave the DRC in 2017.
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“There were people who wanted to kill me,” Arnold said.
“At the time, I was detained somewhere when people came to our house and attacked my family. This situation led to the death of my child. »
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Once safe, Yafunga Botay and his older brother Christian watched their father train before he left to work as a laborer.
Yafunga Botay began receiving instruction in the rules and techniques of judo at the age of seven.
However, life in their adopted East African country presented its share of challenges.
“I didn’t have judogi clothes or the means to pay transportation costs for local competitions,” he explained.
“Going to school is difficult. There is no money to pay school fees. »
“My father doesn’t have a job. He has to go to work and give us money to pay school fees. »
“And here we have no support. As a refugee, to stay in Kenya you must have papers. »
“[Fortunately], the IOC (International Olympic Committee) set up this program to help refugees realize their dreams. »
An Olympic first for refugees
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The Refugee Olympic Team was first introduced at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and Cameroon-born boxer Cindy Ngamba won the team's first ever medal at Paris 2024 by taking bronze in the women's 75kg category.
For the double first, the team will make its debut at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, the first Olympic event held on African soil.
“As a refugee, we have the right to participate in the competition,” said Yafunga Botay.
“A refugee is a human being like any other. »
Father Arnold says the team is a message of hope for displaced people around the world.
“Being a refugee doesn’t mean your life is over,” he said.
“Refugees can also do surprising things. »
“My message to other refugees is: don’t give up. Persevere to the end. »
The team of six athletes participating in the competition in Senegal is supervised by Eliud Kipchoge, double Olympic marathon champion.
“He teaches us to respect the coach, to concentrate on what we are doing,” Yafunga Botay said.
“I promised him I would bring home the gold medal so he could see what I accomplished. »
Discipline and respect
Photo credit, BBC Sport Africa
Judo has become a central part of the family's life.
Arnold still trains Yafunga Botay and Christian, now 17, occasionally serves as his younger brother's training partner.
The teenager describes his father as “strict,” even at home, and strongly emphasizing the importance of discipline.
“Maintaining your weight is not easy. He [Arno] needs to continue training regularly,” Arnold said.
“Judo teaches him respect and helps him interact with others, whether at school or at home. »
“These lessons follow him everywhere. In judo, each fall gives you the strength to continue. »
The owner of the dojo in the Kenyan capital where Yafunga Botay has trained since 2020 says his selection for Dakar 2026 has “changed the perception” of judo within the community.
“It helps parents understand that judo is not just a combat sport, but that it has real value,” Lawrence Karisa Nyundo told the BBC.
“I have received calls from parents who want to register their children. »
“It is a great achievement for our club to have one of our athletes participate in the Olympic Games. We hope he will perform well. »
After Dakar, Yafunga Botay hopes that other refugees can benefit from his experience in the future.
“In Kakuma, there are good judokas.”
“I think if I win a gold medal, I can go there and teach them the value of judo. »
Competition at Dakar 2026 begins on Friday, with the opening ceremony taking place the following day and the judo events taking place from November 1-3.
We used AI to help translate this article, originally written in English. A BBC journalist checked the translation before publication. Learn more about how we use AI.
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