in brazil, yolande mabika and popole misenga are within reach of the olympics. g and training in rio dejaneiro. yolande and popole both came from one of the areas worst affected during the congolese civil war. when they came to rio in 2013 for the world judo championships, they escaped from the team and made a bid for asylum. a local charity stepped in to help them continue their training here in brazil. they train in a favela west of rio. the facilities are basic. but their coaches are among the best. one of the biggest challenges for sensei geraldo was having to change their approach tojudo. that was the last day yolande saw her family. she doesn't even know if they are still alive. popole is now married with a one—year—old son. he is the stepdad to his wife's three children. now they both have just one mission. make it onto the refugee team and, perhaps, theirfamilies back home will know they survived. with just weeks to go, training has intensified. she does on average 240 lengths per day, including one hour in the gym on top of homework and school. there is

in brazil, yolande mabika and popole misenga are within reach of the olympics. fected during the congolese civil war. when they came to rio in 2013 for the world judo championships, they escaped from the team and made a bid for asylum. a local charity stepped in to help them continue their training here in brazil. they train in a favela west of rio. the facilities are basic. but their coaches are among the best. one of the biggest challenges for the senseir was having to change one of the biggest challenges for the sensei was having to change their approach tojudo. that was the last day yolande saw her family. she doesn't even know if they are still alive. popole is now married with a one—year—old son. he is the stepdad to his wife's three children. now they both have just one mission. make it onto the refugee team and, perhaps, theirfamilies back home will know they survived. with just weeks to go, training has intensified. she does on average 240 lengths per day, including one hour in the gym on top of homework and school. there is little time for much else. it