Yusra Mardini
 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 5 March 1998 Syria |
| Height | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) |
| Weight | 53 kg (117 lb) |
| Sport | |
| Country | Syria |
| Sport | Freestyle swimming, Butterfly swimming |
Yusra Mardini (born 5 March 1998) is a Syrian swimmer currently living in Berlin, Germany. She is a member of the Refugee Olympic Athletes Team (ROT), competing under the Olympic flag at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.[1]
Early life
Mardini was born into a Syrian Christian family.[2] Growing up in Damascus, Mardini trained in swimming with the support of the Syrian Olympic Committee.[3] In 2012, she represented Syria in the 2012 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) 200 metre individual medley, 200 metre freestyle and 400 metre freestyle events.[4]
Mardini's house was destroyed in the Syrian Civil War.[5] Mardini and her sister Sarah decided to flee Syria in August 2015.[6] They reached Lebanon, and then Turkey, where they arranged to be smuggled into Greece by boat with 18 other refugees,[6] though the boat was meant to be used by no more than six or seven people.[3] After the motor stopped working and the dinghy began to take on water in the Aegean Sea, Mardini, her sister, and two other people who were able to swim[3] got into the water and pushed the boat for over 3 hours until it reached Lesbos.[6] They then traveled through Europe to Germany, where they settled in Berlin in September 2015.[3] Her parents also fled Syria and live in Germany.[7]
Swimming career
On arrival in Germany, Mardini continued her training with Wasserfreunde Spandau 04 in Berlin, in hopes of qualifying for the Olympics.[3][6] She attempted to qualify in the 200 metre freestyle swimming event.[5] In June 2016, Mardini was one of ten athletes selected for the ROT.[8] Mardini will compete in the 100-meter freestyle and the 100-meter butterfly at the 2016 Summer Olympics.[9] IOC president Thomas Bach said of the refugee athletes, “We help them to make their dream of sporting excellence come true, even when they have to flee war and violence.” [10]
Mardini won her butterfly heat event on the opening day of the Rio Olympics, but her time was not fast enough to progress to the semi-finals.[11]
References
- ^ Fahey, Ciaran (18 March 2016). "Swimmer Yusra Mardini hopes to compete at Rio Games for refugee squad in hopes of inspiring other Syrians. On 6 August 2016, Yusra won her heat Summer Olympics in the 100 meter butterfly". The Toronto Star. ISSN 0319-0781. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
- ^ Ashitha Nagesh (29 July 2016). "Meet the teen who escaped war in Syria to go for Olympic gold". Metro.co.uk. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
- ^ a b c d e Philip Oltermann. "From Syria to Rio: refugee Yusra Mardini targets Olympic swimming spot". the Guardian. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
- ^ "The inspirational Olympic journey of refugee swimmer Yusra Mardini". Olympic.org. Olympic Games. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
- ^ a b "Olympics hopeful Syrian refugee swims for three hours pushing boat of migrants". Stuff. 21 March 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
- ^ a b c d "After Surviving Aegean Sea, Syrian Swimmer Hopes For Spot In Olympics". NPR.org. 20 March 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
- ^ "Refugee swimmer Yusra Mardini gets a chance to go the Olympic Games". SwimSwam. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
- ^ ESPN
- ^ Wilder, Charly She Swam to Escape Syria. Now She’ll Swim in Rio. New York Times. August 3, 2016
- ^ "Team of Refugee Olympic Athletes (ROA) created by the IOC". IOC. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
- ^ Yusra Mardini delights with butterfly heat win for Refugee Olympic Team, The Guardian, Retrieved 6 August 2016