The Guardian

The teenager who ran from Africa and now hopes to run for Spain

Athletics prospect Kone Yossodjo says he wants to show that migrants can add to society
Kone Yossodjo: ‘I had faith my running would save me.’ Photograph: Diálogos Para Construir

It took teenager Kone Yossodjo more than a year to run from poverty and despair in west Africa. He is still running these days, just a lot quicker. Despite never having competed in track events until he was 15, the 19-year-old Ivorian has been winning middle-distance races all over Spain.

He competed in 11 races during

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