Ayouba-Ali Sihame, 18, was one of three athletes representing the small nation of Comoros.

Sihame vanished from the Olympic Village after finishing last in her 100 metres freestyle heat.

She was later detected trying to leave Britain en route to Paris,

Sihame told authorities she had lived rough on the streets of London to avoid returning home to an arranged marriage.

She told Canterbury Crown Court her parents wanted to cash in on her celebrity status and had effectively "sold" her to a man 42 years her senior who already has two wives.

Sihame obtained a fake French passport in her bid to start a new life in Paris.

Ayouba-Ali Sihame went missing after finishing last in her heat of the 100 metres freestyle

She was detected attempting to cross the Channel and arrested.

Sihame was jailed for eight months.

Her lawyer said she has applied for asylum and hopes to avoid deportation on her release from prison, claiming she faced death in Comoros for bringing shame on her family.

Athletes from several African countries, including Cameroon, Congo, Eritrea, Guinea, Ivory Coast and Rwanda went missing during the Olympics and Paralympics in London.

The exact number may never be known because they all had a special visa to stay in Britain until last November. 

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