The Olympic Games, considered the pinnacle of sporting competition, got off to a grand start in Paris today. These games also honor refugee athletes who have overcome incredible obstacles to fulfill their dreams. One such athlete is Yusra Mardini, a Syrian refugee who fled her war-torn country as a teenager and went on to participate in the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games.
Yusra was 16 when she fled Syria in August 2015, escaping the civil war raging at home.
With his sister, the journey was very difficult. They traveled from Syria to Lebanon, then to Turkey, then boarded a boat to Greece and then by plane.
The short 10-km journey was supposed to take just 45 minutes, but the boat, already in a dilapidated state and filled with 20 people, began to sway within 20 minutes. Yusra, her sister and two others were forced to abandon ship and push the boat towards shore, a desperate effort that took more than three hours.
“The whole time you could hear all of our prayers in one voice,” the Olympic Refugee Team ambassador explained in an interview.
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Her journey to her final destination, Germany, continued on foot, on buses and even with the help of smugglers. Less than a year later, Mardini competed at Rio 2016 as part of the first-ever IOC Refugee Olympic Team.
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Although his performance in the 100m butterfly heats placed him in the bottom ranks, his victory went beyond the medal podium. In his words, he carried not only the Olympic flag but also the hopes and dreams of the global community.
Yusra’s journey extends beyond the pool, she advocates for the rights of refugees and has been named the UN’s youngest ever Human Rights Goodwill Ambassador, her indomitable spirit continues to inspire, proving that sport can be a powerful tool for hope and resilience.
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The recent release of his biopic “The Swimmers” has further cemented his legacy, while his inclusion in Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2023 confirms his impact on society.
While 10 athletes participated as part of the refugee team at the 2016 Olympics, 37 athletes will represent the refugee team at the Paris Olympics.