In Pictures: Congolese athlete a strong candidate for new Refugees Olympic Athletes team

Popole Misenga, 24, a refugee judoka from the Democratic Republic of Congo, is a strong candidate for the newly created Refugees Olympic Athletes team for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. The Congolese athlete - who has been split from his family due to the civil war in Congo since he was 10, decided to stay in Brazil during the World Judo Championshio in 2013 together with fellow female judoka Yolande Mabika.

Updated

Published

Apr 26, 2016, 09:01 AM

Popole Misenga, 24, a refugee judoka from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, taking lessons in Portuguese before a training in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on April 14, 2016. PHOTO: AFP

Popole Misenga (left) kissing his partner Fabiana before going for a training session in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on April 14, 2016. PHOTO: AFP

Popole Misenga (top) during a training session at Instituto Reacao in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on April 14, 2016. PHOTO: AFP

Popole Misenga (centre) having lunch with his one-year-old son Heliasin and his partner Fabiana at home in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on April 14, 2016. PHOTO: AFP

Popole Misenga (right) during a training session at Instituto Reacao, on April 14, 2016. PHOTO: AFP

Popole Misenga (centre) during a training session at Instituto Reacao, on April 14, 2016. PHOTO: AFP

Popole Misenga (second, right) talking with his Brazilian coach Geraldo Bernardes (second, left), former member of Brazilian national judo team, before a training session at Instituto Reacao in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on April 14, 2016. PHOTO: AFP

Popole Misenga (right) during a training session at Instituto Reacao, on April 14, 2016. PHOTO: AFP

Popole Misenga (left) playing judo with his one-year-old son Heliasin at home. PHOTO: AFP

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