Resilience, discipline and talent.
All are attributes Olympians must possess to compete on the prestigious world platform. While Mardini undoubtedly holds all three the obstacle of fleeing a Civil War makes her achievements all the more impactful.
Growing up in a Damascus suburb and coached by her swimmer father , Ezzat, Mardini was driven from a young age to strive for success. Having her house destroyed in the Syrian Civil War she fled the country with her sister Sara in August 2015.
The moving film (directed by Sally El Sohaini) tells the sister's story emotively and inspiringly. A particularly gripping scene is their journey from Turkey to Greece in a dinghy. In the film, the two selflessly jump into the sea to prevent the boat from sinking and this mirrors real-life experience. Sara and Yusra ,and two others, pulled and pushed for 3 hours to get the boat to shore in Lesbos.
Their immense bravery and resilience is admirable.
Once arriving in Germany, Mardini was able to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics - fulfilling her dream. She also competed at Tokyo 2020 and is now a UNCHR Goodwill Ambassador - motivating a younger generation of refugees to have hope.
Her story is certainly one of determination and courage and I'd strongly encourage you to watch "The Swimmers" on Netflix to hear more about her journey.
