One refugee's journey to the Olympics

After losing his family in Congo's civil war, Popole Misenga found purpose in judo

Jackie Friedman's avatar
Lauren Hansen's avatar
By ,
published

Popole Misenga
(Image credit: (REUTERS/Pilar Olivares)Misenga grew up in the eastern part of the DRC, one of the areas worst affected by the devastating 1998-2003 civil war that left more than 5 million dead, including hi)

(Image credit: (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)Misenga became a professional judoka and though the sport helped him find purpose after the war, he was reportedly brutalized and belittled by his coaches while violence)

(Image credit: (YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP/Getty Images))

(Image credit: (REUTERS/Pilar Olivares))

(Image credit: Getty Images)

(YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP/Getty Images)

(Image credit: (REUTERS/Pilar Olivares))

(Image credit: (REUTERS/Pilar Olivares))

(Image credit: (REUTERS/Pilar Olivares))

(Image credit: (YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP/Getty Images))

(Image credit: Getty Images)

(YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP/Getty Images)

Lauren Hansen
Lauren Hansen

Lauren Hansen produces The Week’s podcasts and videos and edits the photo blog, Captured. She also manages the production of the magazine's iPad app. A graduate of Kenyon College and Northwestern University, she previously worked at the BBC and Frontline. She knows a thing or two about pretty pictures and cute puppies, both of which she tweets about @mylaurenhansen.