For the refugees, the Olympics aren’t a sporting struggle. “I hope in Tokyo in 2020 there will be no refugees and we will able to compete under our own flag”. I haven’t seen my family for 18 years, this is sad. During a perilous journey to Lesbos, the engine of their packed dinghy failed and the craft began taking on water.
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She says in an Instagram post that she had filed an application with the IAAF as an individual to have her case reconsidered, but “they didn’t make an exception for me”.
Mardini is joined in the refugee ranks by another Syrian swimmer, Rami Anis.
Felix, who hurt her right ankle during training this spring, was at less than 100 percent earlier this month when she ran in the U.S. Olympic trials.
He added: “They’ve got their building now, and I hope things go well from now on”.
“We have iron wills”.
At the US training camp on Friday, Felix said she doesn’t think she’ll ever get past the disappointment of not getting to go for the 200-400 double, but she’s focused on the task at hand.
Misenga was even more upbeat.
Misenga was nine-years-old when he fled fighting in Kisangani – he spent eight days wandering a forest before being taken to a centre for displaced children in the capital, Kinshasa.
He later settled in Brazil, staying in the country after the 2013 World Championships. “I have two brothers, I don’t know what they will look like now”.
The IWF said the ban also applied to Russia’s technical official for the Rio Games, whose appointment was withdrawn. “So I send hugs and kisses to my brothers”. I’m striving so I can manage to one day buy a ticket for you to come to Brazil and live with me here.
Another refugee from war in the Congo, Yolande Mabika, followed Misenga’s journey by settling in Brazil.
“This is not just a struggle for sport, it is a struggle for life”.
“In our lifetime we never thought that running could be something that can have a benefit”, she said.
“We are fighting for all the refugees in the world”.
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“People ask if they can win a medal”.
