Yusra Mardini was 16 when she fled a civil war in her home in Syria.
New Delhi:
The Olympic Games, considered the pinnacle of sporting competition, kicked off in style today in Paris. The Games also honor refugee athletes who have overcome incredible obstacles to pursue their dreams. One such athlete is Yusra Mardini, a Syrian refugee who fled her war-torn country as a teenager and went on to compete in the 2016 and 2020 Olympics.
Yusra was 16 years old when she fled her home in Syria from a civil war in August 2015.
Accompanied by her sister, the journey was gruelling. They travelled by plane from Syria to Lebanon, then to Turkey, before boarding a boat to Greece.
The short 10-kilometer journey was supposed to take just 45 minutes, but the ship, already in poor condition and overcrowded with 20 people, began to falter after just 20 minutes. Yusra, her sister and two others were forced to abandon ship and push the boat to shore, a desperate attempt that took more than three hours.
“You could hear all our prayers with one voice all the time,” the Olympic Refugee Team ambassador said in an interview.
Her journey to her final destination, Germany, continued on foot, in buses and even with the help of smugglers. Less than a year later, Mardini was part of the first-ever IOC Refugee Olympic Team in Rio 2016.
Although her performance in the 100m butterfly placed her in the lower regions, her triumph transcended the podium. In her own words, she carried not only the Olympic flag, but the hopes and dreams of a global community.
Yusra’s journey extends beyond the pool: she has championed the rights of refugees and was appointed the UN’s youngest ever ambassador for human rights. Her indomitable spirit continues to inspire, proving that sport can be a powerful tool for hope and resilience.
The recent release of her biopic “The Swimmers” further cemented her legacy, while her inclusion in TIME Magazine’s 2023 list of the 100 most influential people in the world confirmed her impact on society.
While 10 athletes participated in the 2016 Olympic Games as part of the refugee team, 37 athletes will represent the flag at the Paris Olympics.
