Strong start for the Refugee Olympic Team at Dakar 2026 as Arno Yafunga reaches bronze medal match

Arno, who is coached by his father Arnold in Kenya, started with a win in his first bout against his opponent from Tanzania. With all five of his teammates from the Refugee Olympic Team in attendance at the Dakar Expo Centre, the loud support had the venue jumping for the young judoka. 

Following a defeat in the quarter-final against his opponent from Saudi Arabia, Arno was given a second chance at a bronze medal through the repechage. He grabbed his opportunity when it came, winning his first match by ippon and securing his place in the bronze medal match when his opponent DNS in the following match.  

Unfortunately, the bronze medal was not to be, as he was defeated by ippon, despite starting the match strongly.  

After his final match, Arno said: “I wanted to win the medal, and unfortunately I didn't do it. But I am so proud of myself for how I did it, how I managed to win two matches but unfortunately lost two matches. All of my team was here and they motivated me. They supported me, and that’s why I won today. I am so grateful for this.” 

Pur Biel, Chef de Mission for the Refugee Olympic Team in Dakar, was at the Dakar Expo Centre to cheer on Arno. Having himself competed as a member of the first-ever Refugee Olympic Team at Rio 2016, Pur knows all too well what the experience means.  

He said: "Today, Arno has shown strength and courage to come back from a defeat in the quarter-final. He has made all of us very proud, and demonstrated to everyone what this team is capable of." 

He added: "Seeing Arno's determination today will have given his teammates motivation for the competitions to come. This is momentum that we will aim to build on in the coming days."

From Kakuma to the Youth Olympic Games 

At a young age, Arno was forced to flee the Democratic Republic of Congo with his father Arnold, who took the young family to Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya. As displacement stripped away much of what held their life together, Arnold found refuge in judo.  

“Usually in the morning, I’d go running and do judo exercises,” he said. "The kids [Arno and his brother Christian] would watch me do it before heading to school and it got them interested.” 

This inspired Arno to take up the sport himself, and it’s clear it has helped him beyond the matt.  

“I like judo because of [my father] and how he takes training seriously,” Arno said. “I told him to take me with him and to train me to be confident on the tatami and outside. Because it's no different. If you're doing judo you need to know how to fall and to protect yourself. Judo protects me from many things.” 

It was this safety that led both Arno and his father to the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, where they have now made history. The cheers heard at the Dakar Expo Centre suggested that Arno’s journey had inspired many. 

Arno is supported through the Refugee Athlete Support programme, which is managed by the Olympic Refuge Foundation and funded through Olympic Solidarity. The National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Kenya serves as his host NOC, giving him access to the training and competitions which have allowed him to reach this level.  

The Refugee Olympic Team is competing for the first time at the Youth Olympic Games. It is composed of six athletes competing in athletics, judo and taekwondo.