Yolande Mabika

Mabika was born on 8 September 1987. She is from the Bukavu area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, an area severely affected by the Second Congo War. There she took up judo, a sport the Congolese government advocated for orphans to take as an ideal way to seek some structure. The coaches confiscated their money and passports and left them confined in their hotel rooms. After two days barely eating, Mabika escaped the team hotel and went looking for help on the streets. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) officially granted Mabika refugee status in September 2014. She lives in various homes in a favela of the Cordovil neighborhood. ==Judo==

In 2013, she qualified for the World Judo Championships held in Brazil. However, she never competed in the competition, leaving to find help, eventually seeking asylum and remaining in the country. She received support and funding from the IOC's Olympic Solidarity programme. She competed in the women's 70 kg event. ==References==