Yusra Mardini: A Syrian Refugee Swimming Away From Danger And Toward A Better Life

Yusra Mardini: “Sport was our way out”

Syrian refugee and Olympic swimmer Yusra Mardini was appointed the youngest ever Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency in April 2017, aged just 19. She advocates for refugees globally through sharing her own inspiring story and has become a powerful voice for the forcibly displaced across the world and an example of their resilience and determination to rebuild lives and positively contribute to host communities.

Yusra was selected to compete at Rio 2016 as part of the first-ever Refugee Olympic Team. She was catapulted onto the world’s stage and subsequently addressed world leaders at the UN General Assembly, met the Pope, and was honored with several awards. Yusra’s incredible story is told in her memoir ‘Butterfly: From Refugee to Olympian – My Story of Rescue, Hope and Triumph’ which is currently being adapted into a film.

Yusra has spoken on behalf of UNHCR at Google Zeitgeist, WE Day, the World Economic Forum in Davos, and many other global stages. She also supports UNHCR campaigns and events and fundraising activities. Yusra hopes to compete at the Tokyo Olympics, rescheduled to 2021.

“Sport was our way out,” said the 22-year-old. “It was kind of what gave us hope to build our new lives,” Mardini says she built an incredible bond with her fellow Refugee team members and that they still communicate in a WhatsApp group today. “The memories I made with everyone are so great,” she says. “Every time someone does something great, we tell each other.”

Those congratulations would also include Mardini, herself, of course, who has started doing swimming camps for refugee children. Though she could not attend the first camp in December 2019, she says she was moved by what she says virtually. “It was first my first ever charity project and it was my first ever swimming school,” Mardini explained. “I was really disappointed not to be a part of it… but this is not the last time I’ll do that. I will do that again.”

She hopes that her story can remind the world that refugees are more than just stories in the news, they are people, too. “I always tell people that they are normal, we are normal. We do not come from a poor country. That’s not true,” said Mardini. “That’s not true. We did not come here without dreams. We already have so many doctors, engineers, swimmers. I always try to tell people it’s normal. We have everything you have.

“I also want to remind everyone that refugees are still in the camps, and they really do need our help.”

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