A refugee father coaches his son at the youth Olympic Games

Arnold Yafunga coached his 15-year-old son, Arno Yafunga, during the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal.

The pair traveled from a refugee camp in Kenya to the international competition after fleeing war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2017. Arnold Yafunga previously trained in judo and planned to compete in the Olympics himself, but he paused his athletic goals to provide for his family after they moved to Kenya.

He continued to practice the sport in their new home, which eventually inspired his children. Arno and his brother Christian began training with their father in the mornings before school. Arnold, a black belt, faced obstacles such as a lack of equipment and limited training spaces while navigating the challenges of refugee life. Arno competed in the boys' under 55kg judo category and finished in fifth place.

He became the first athlete to represent the refugee team in the history of the Youth Olympic Games. During the tournament, Arno defeated a competitor from Tanzania before losing to a representative from Saudi Arabia in the quarterfinals. He eventually lost a bronze medal match against a Mongolian athlete. The Refugee Athlete Support Program, managed by the Olympic Fund for Refugees and funded by Olympic Solidarity, helped the family reach the games.

The Kenya Olympic Committee also assisted Arno with his training and competition access. Arnold expressed pride in his son's performance and noted that the experience serves as a starting point for Arno to aim for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.