text: Facinet Keita was representing Guinea in the 2012 Olympics when he was knocked out in the qualifying stages . An Olympic judo star from Africa is still fighting to stay in Britain – three years after flying here for the London Games then refusing to leave. Facinet Keita, 31, fled the Olympic village in summer 2012, claiming his failure to win a medal meant he ‘would be murdered’ if he returned to his native Guinea. His wife who was left to look after the couple’s two children has now split from him because she ‘couldn’t wait for him’. Mr Keita – the official flag-bearer for the West African nation during the opening ceremony – said he decided to go on the run after losing to an opponent from the Pacific island of Guam within five minutes. He said: ‘My coaches told me I had lost the fight like a baby. They said I embarrassed my country and I would be in big trouble when we are at home.’ After three months sleeping rough, Mr Keita handed himself in to authorities and was locked up in an immigration detention centre. While there he made two requests for asylum, both of which were rejected. After the second failed request, he was told he had to leave Britain on December 17, 2013. He agreed to board a plane to Ghana, but upon arrival there he said that he was turned back because he did not have the correct travel documents. He returned to Britain and was once again detained. However, he was released in March 2014 and has since been coaching judo in Stoke-on-Trent. He now plans to make a third application for asylum. Mr Keita said he has built a new life in Britain and has met friends who have become like family. ‘The people here are really welcoming, if you show them you are a good person,’ he added. Mr Keita was one of 20 Olympians who remained in Britain after the Games. He is refusing to leave the UK after he lost by ippon in the qualifying stages of the Men's +100kg against 34-stone Ricardo Blas Junior, from Guam (right) Keita claims his coaches told him he lost the fight 'like a baby' and there would be trouble when he returned . He is now being supported by an asylum seeker charity in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, while he applies for his third asylum application, after his first two bids and an appeal were refused . He is volunteering at a Sneyd Green Primary School Judo Club in Stoke (pictured) because he cannot earn a living pending his asylum application . Before travelling to the UK for the Olympics, he had won five national titles in Guinea and regularly appeared on TV. Mr Keita denies he has stayed in Britain to claim benefits. He said: ‘My situation is difficult, 100 per cent difficult. I want to be near my family and I want to see them but I can’t.’ His request to stay in Britain has been backed by the African Social Health Agency, which supports asylum seekers. It described Mr Keita as an asset to the local community. A Home Office spokesman said: ‘We do not routinely comment on individual cases. 'The UK has a proud history of granting asylum to those who need our protection and we consider every claim on its individual merits. 'When someone is found not to need our protection, we expect them to leave the country.'
target: Facinet Keita, 31, represented Guinea in Men's +100kg judo but lost bout .
  He claims he was told he'd be murdered for disgracing country on return .
  After Games he fled to Bradford but was detained in an immigration centre .
  Released to be deported but is refusing to leave in fear he'd be killed .