Young refugee defies odds to compete in Paris Olympics

Making it to the Olympic Games is a dream for every athlete in the world and more so for those who had to overcome incredible odds to get the opportunity.

This is the story of 21-year-old Perina Nakang, a refugee based at the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Turkana County who will be competing in the 800-metre race in Paris, France.

Nakang will be part of 36 other athletes from 11 countries competing in various tracks under the Refugee Olympic Team.

Narrating her story to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) from her training centre in Eldoret, moments before she left for France, Perina said she started running at the camp by chance and following much prompting by a friend of hers at the camp who was constantly running.

"I used to wonder how long she would keep running. I thought it would take her nowhere; it was like chasing the wind," she giggled.

With time however, she took it more seriously and began participating in local competitions before reaching her turning point in 2022 when she emerged as first runners-up in a women's 100-metre race in Nairobi.

"Running has changed the lives of many athletes so I decided to pursue it seriously, " she said.

According to KNHCR, Perina's athletic career has changed her life's course and helped her get a scholarship at the Shoe4Africa Secondary School in Kapsabet town. Mary Keitany, the world long-distance record holder, founded the school. She is currently a student there.

Her coach Janeth Jepkosgei said Perina has been adequately prepared for the Paris competition.

"We have been preparing both mentally and physically, especially through strength training. Perina has been working hard, going from a time of 02:29 to a personal best of 02:12 at the national trials," said Jepkosgei, adding that she hopes Perina will do even better in Paris.

UNHCR partners with the International Olympics Committee and the Olympic Refugee Foundation to support refugees' participation in the globally acclaimed sporting event to bring hope and inspire those who were forced to flee their homes.

The partnership began in 2016 at the Rio Olympics and has continued every four years. During this third partnership, the refugee team is expected to compete in 12 different sports including athletics, badminton, boxing, taekwondo, wrestling and aquatics.

Perina hopes for a major win at the event which she believes will forever transform the life of her mother, who also lives with her in the Kakuma refugee camp.

"My goal is to win at least six gold medals. After that, I can retire and mentor aspiring athletes to become like me," she said.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi carried the Olympics torch during the ceremony in honour of all people forced to flee their homes across the world by calamities on Friday night.

"I am very proud of the refugee athletes and happy they have the opportunity to convey a positive message to the world. One of determination, strength, courage and success," he said.

This year's refugee team is the largest ever since the partnership began, with KNCHR noting that it will carry the hopes of some 120 million displaced people worldwide.

They include Cyndy Ngamba and Yahya Ghotany who carried the flag for the team down the Seine during the Opening ceremony's parade of athletes on Friday night.

One of the fundamental principles of the spirit of the Olympics is the promotion of a peaceful society, preservation of human dignity and advancement of development goals.

"Sport is not just a physical activity; it promotes health and helps prevent or even cure the diseases of modern civilization. It also is an educational tool which fosters cognitive development; teaches social behaviour; and helps to integrate communities," International Olympic Committee President, Thomas Bach said.