Refugee Olympic Team at the 2016 Summer Olympics

The IOC identified 43 potential candidates for inclusion in the team with the final selection to take into account sporting ability, personal circumstances, and United Nations-verified refugee status. An initial three athletes were identified as potential competitors for Rio; Yusra Mardini, a 17-year-old Syrian swimmer, who crossed from Turkey into Greece in an inflatable boat (swimming after its motor had stopped) before crossing Europe by train through mainland Greece, the Balkans, Hungary and Austria to eventually reach Germany where she now lives and trains; Raheleh Asemani, an Iranian taekwondo athlete training in Belgium; and judoka Popole Misenga, originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo but now living in Brazil. Additional candidates were identified: among refugees of the Syrian Civil War, cyclists Ahmad Badreddin Wais and Nazir Jaser and triathlete Mohamad Masoo; and in Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya, where a support program run by former marathon world record holder Tegla Loroupe identified 23 athletes. The team was led by Loroupe, who acted as a "peace ambassador". Rose Lokonyen was selected as the flag bearer for the opening ceremony, and judoka Popole Misenga was chosen to carry the flag for the closing ceremony. ==Athletics==

arriving in Rio de Janeiro for the Olympic Games Four men and two women competed in the Games in the athletics competitions. On 21 August, he finished the Marathon in 2 hours, 24 minutes and 8 seconds which put him in 90th place out of 140 classified finishers. James Chiengjiek, originally from South Sudan was 24 years old at the time. He took part in the 400 meters, Assigned to the fourth heat, he finished in a time of 52.89 seconds, which was eighth in the heat. Only the top three from each heat, plus the next three fastest overall, were allowed to progress, meaning he was eliminated. Yiech Biel, also originally from South Sudan, was 21 at the time of the Olympics. Biel's race was the 800 m meters, where he finished eighth in his heat with a time of 1 minute and 54.67 seconds, insufficient to qualify for the next round. Rose Lokonyen, also from South Sudan, was 21 years of age at the time of the Rio Olympics. She raced in the 800 meters and was seventh in her heat with a time of 2 minutes and 16.64 seconds. Anjelina Lohalith was 23 at the time of these Olympics and was also originally from South Sudan. She ran in the women's 1500 meters race, and finished 14th and last in her heat with a time of 4 minutes and 47.38 seconds, eliminating her from the competition. Paulo Lokoro ran the men's 1500 meters; he was 24 years old and originally from South Sudan. He finished 11th in his heat with a time of 4 minutes and 3.96 seconds, out of 12 classified finishers of his heat. This was not sufficient to advance him to the semi-finals. ;Track & road events ==Judo==

Two judokas were selected as part of the team, one male and one female. Both Popole Misenga and Yolande Mabika are originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo but have been training in Brazil. He competed in the men's middleweight competition, held on 10 August, and received a bye through the first round. In the second round, he beat Avtar Singh of India, and in the third round lost to eventual bronze medalist Gwak Dong-han of South Korea. Misenga was officially recorded as finishing in a tie for ninth place. Mabika was 28 years old at the time of the Rio Olympics. On 10 August, she lost in the first round of the women's −70 kg to Linda Bolder of Israel. She is recorded as finishing a joint 17th place. ==Swimming==

was one of two swimmers for the Refugee Team in Rio. Two swimmers were selected for the team, one male and one female; Rami Anis, originally from Syria, and since then living in Belgium and Yusra Mardini, also originally from Syria, and living in Germany at the time. An assistant coach, Khamis Agear, is also from Syria. On 9 August, he took part in the men's 100 meters freestyle's first round, from where the top 16 swimmers proceeded to the semifinals. His time was 54.25 seconds, 6th of 8 swimmers in his heat On 11 August he competed in the men's 100 meters butterfly. In the first round, he swam a time of 56.23 seconds, last in his heat. As the top 16 could proceed to the semifinals, Mardini was 18 years old at the time of the 2016 Olympics. On 6 August, she swam in the first round of the women's 100 meters butterfly and won her heat in a time of 1 minute and 9.21 seconds. However, only the top 16 overall were to advance to the semifinals, Next for her was the women's 100 meters freestyle on 10 August. She was 7th in her heat with a time of 1 minute and 4.66 seconds, and, as usual, the top 16 overall fastest times made the semifinals. Her overall placement with that time was 45th, so she was eliminated. Mardini and her sister Sara inspired the Netflix film The Swimmers. Qualifiers for the latter rounds of all events were decided on a time-only basis, therefore ranks shown are overall results versus competitors in all heats. ==See also==