![Being a refugee is a status. But nobody chooses to be a refugee': From fleeing persecution to competing at Tokyo 2020 Being a refugee is a status. But nobody chooses to be a refugee': From fleeing persecution to competing at Tokyo 2020](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/womens-sport/2021/07/27/RF2233647_TK1_7150_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqA7N2CxnJWnYI3tCbVBgu9TWU-KwRaHvlaJXY1texVLQ.jpg?imwidth=680)
Being a refugee is a status. But nobody chooses to be a refugee': From fleeing persecution to competing at Tokyo 2020
Bravery Mag - Do you know Olympic runner Rose Nathike Lokonyen? Rose made history when she proudly represented refugees worldwide in the 2016 Rio Games. She was one of ten athletes chosen
![Tokyo, Japan. July 30, 2021: Rose Lokonyen Nathike from the refugee team during 800 meter for women at the Tokyo Olympics, Tokyo Olympic stadium, Tokyo, Japan. Kim Price/CSM Credit: Cal Sport Media/Alamy Tokyo, Japan. July 30, 2021: Rose Lokonyen Nathike from the refugee team during 800 meter for women at the Tokyo Olympics, Tokyo Olympic stadium, Tokyo, Japan. Kim Price/CSM Credit: Cal Sport Media/Alamy](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2GABBJW/tokyo-japan-july-30-2021-rose-lokonyen-nathike-from-the-refugee-team-during-800-meter-for-women-at-the-tokyo-olympics-tokyo-olympic-stadium-tokyo-japan-kim-pricecsm-credit-cal-sport-mediaalamy-live-news-2GABBJW.jpg)
Tokyo, Japan. July 30, 2021: Rose Lokonyen Nathike from the refugee team during 800 meter for women at the Tokyo Olympics, Tokyo Olympic stadium, Tokyo, Japan. Kim Price/CSM Credit: Cal Sport Media/Alamy
![Refugee Olympic Team on Twitter: "Rose Nathike Lokonyen has just been chosen as the flagbearer at tomorrow's opening ceremony! #RefugeeOlympicTeam https://t.co/E42uFIY6Sp" / Twitter Refugee Olympic Team on Twitter: "Rose Nathike Lokonyen has just been chosen as the flagbearer at tomorrow's opening ceremony! #RefugeeOlympicTeam https://t.co/E42uFIY6Sp" / Twitter](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CpB7FJdXgAEFah4.jpg:large)
Refugee Olympic Team on Twitter: "Rose Nathike Lokonyen has just been chosen as the flagbearer at tomorrow's opening ceremony! #RefugeeOlympicTeam https://t.co/E42uFIY6Sp" / Twitter
Rose blooms for refugees; Flagbearer for the first-ever IOC Refugee Olympic Team at Rio 2016, has been flying their flag wherever she goes
![Rose Nathike and Yiech Pur Biel: Olympic refugee runners ran barefoot because they didn't have shoes | The Independent | The Independent Rose Nathike and Yiech Pur Biel: Olympic refugee runners ran barefoot because they didn't have shoes | The Independent | The Independent](https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2016/08/10/10/rose-nathike-lokonyen.jpg?quality=75&width=982&height=726&auto=webp)
Rose Nathike and Yiech Pur Biel: Olympic refugee runners ran barefoot because they didn't have shoes | The Independent | The Independent
![Rose Nathike and Yiech Pur Biel: Olympic refugee runners ran barefoot because they didn't have shoes | The Independent | The Independent Rose Nathike and Yiech Pur Biel: Olympic refugee runners ran barefoot because they didn't have shoes | The Independent | The Independent](https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2016/08/10/08/rosenathikelokonyen.jpg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp)
Rose Nathike and Yiech Pur Biel: Olympic refugee runners ran barefoot because they didn't have shoes | The Independent | The Independent
![Rose Nathike Lokonyen, Track | Meet the Women on the IOC Refugee Olympic Team | POPSUGAR Fitness Photo 2 Rose Nathike Lokonyen, Track | Meet the Women on the IOC Refugee Olympic Team | POPSUGAR Fitness Photo 2](https://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/thumbor/OYtVGSnzE8vjfHDgNQl9JVsbWek/fit-in/2048xorig/filters:format_auto-!!-:strip_icc-!!-/2021/06/09/655/n/1922729/c1335bd7f2b7e254_rosenathikelokonyen/i/Rose-Nathike-Lokonyen-Track.jpg)
Rose Nathike Lokonyen, Track | Meet the Women on the IOC Refugee Olympic Team | POPSUGAR Fitness Photo 2
![Athlete Refugee Team's Rose Nathike Lokonyen in action during the Women's 800m heat Six during day seven of the 2017 IAAF World Championships at the London Stadium Stock Photo - Alamy Athlete Refugee Team's Rose Nathike Lokonyen in action during the Women's 800m heat Six during day seven of the 2017 IAAF World Championships at the London Stadium Stock Photo - Alamy](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/JW37JW/athlete-refugee-teams-rose-nathike-lokonyen-in-action-during-the-womens-JW37JW.jpg)