In case you need another reminder of the resilience and bravery of numerous Olympians at the 2016 Games, take a minute to read about Yusra Mardini.
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The swimmer who has been the inspiration of the Rio Games – the Syrian Olympic Refugee Team’s Yusra Mardini – said as she bowed out of competition that she believed she had helped open the world’s eyes to the plight of the displaced and homeless.
Less than a year ago Mardini found herself swimming for her life when the crowded dinghy headed for the Greek island of Lesbos suffered engine failure.
Tune in to the women’s 100m freestyle heat later today to watch Mardini in action. Although she failed to reach the semi-finals, she became a well-celebrated player in the Games. Her swimming abilities were also discovered, and she became the first member of the Olympics refugee team.
The passengers’ bags were thrown overboard in an effort to stay afloat as wind churned up the Aegean Sea. As a last resort, the Mardini sisters and another strong swimmer jumped into the water to give the boat more buoyancy. A weeks long overland trek followed through Macedonia, Serbia and Hungary. Eventually, the sisters made it to Austria and then Germany, where they have since been joined by the rest of their family in Berlin.
Olympics being all about National glory and national pride, this time has a Refugee Team consisting of participants who have no flag, no national anthem to play and no nation wide support.
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“I’ve only been back swimming for two years so we’re only now getting back to my levels of before. If I can achieve something, maybe I can be like him”, Mardini said. She said it would have been a shame if she had drowned at that time because she is a swimmer, The Guardian relays. “Competing with all these great champions is exciting”. Mardini is being hosted by Germany, while Anis is being hosted by Belgium.
