Yusra Mardini

Yursa Mardini:

Biography by Marisol Rivas Gomez

Introduction

Imagine yourself in a dinghy in the choppy ocean, and you’re starting to sink. There are 20 people and out of those 20, only you and your sister, and 2 men know how to swim. You jump in!

Yusra Mardini was this situation in 2015. She is a Syrian refugee and swimmer. She swam 3 hours in the ocean pulling a sinking dinghy safely to shore and she competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics.

She wants to help other refugees.

Younger Ages

Mardini was born March 5, 1998 in Syria. She was only 13 when the war broke out in 2011. She saw her life starting to change. Her neighborhood was frightening because there was war in the streets. School was cancelled and there was shooting. Two swimmers she knew were killed. Her home was destroyed in 2012. She left Syria on August 12, 2015.

Accomplishments

Yusra Mardini has always dreamed of being in the olympics. After leaving Syria, she struggled to move to Berlin, Germany. She swam in 2016 Rio Olympics. She was also one of the first people to join the first refugee team in history.

In Germany, she trained every day starting at 5:30am so that she could get better. She trained for six hours a day and did school.

She got a scholarship for training and was able to get an apartment and the rest of her family.

Fame

Yusra Mardini is remembered because of her action and her bravery. Also, her confidence and courage. I think she is remembered because she did so many amazing things. She did not go to the Olympics expecting to win, she said, “I’m expecting personal best.” This shows that it is not about winning for her, it’s about using what she has learned.

Accomplishments #2

Just a couple years ago she was in the ocean swimming for her life and 20 others. She dragged a sinking boat safely to shore. Being an Olympian made her stand out among others and help her fellow refugees. She helped tell the story of refugees.

Bibliography

Saul, Heather. Yusra Mardini: Olympic Syrian Refugee Who Swam Three Hours in the Sea to Push Sinking Boat Carrying 20 to Safety. The Independent Online. 5 Aug. 2016.

Wilder, Charly. She Swam to Escape Syria. Now She’ll Swim in Rio. New York Times. 1 Aug. 2016

Gregory, Sean. Syrian Swimmer Yusra Mardini, Refugee Olympians to Shine in Rio. Reuters. 1 Aug. 2016.