Short answer: Yusra Mardini and her sister Sarah are Syrian Olympic swimmers who fled Syria during its civil war and now compete under the flag of the International Olympic Committee.
Yusra Mardini Sisters Step by Step: The Journey towards Olympic Success
The story of Yusra Mardini and her sister Sarah is nothing short of inspiring. Born in Damascus, Syria, the sisters were forced to flee their home country due to the ongoing conflict. The journey towards Olympic success did not happen overnight; it was a long road filled with obstacles and challenges that eventually led them to compete on the world stage.
In 2015, the Mardini sisters embarked on their journey towards safety by crossing the Aegean Sea from Turkey to Greece in a dinghy alongside 20 other refugees. They soon found themselves stranded in the ocean when the motor failed, leaving them facing an uncertain fate. That’s when Yusra and Sarah took charge and jumped into the water, using their swimming skills to push and pull the boat for three grueling hours until they reached safety on Lesbos Island. This act of bravery caught international attention and became known as “The Swim for Life.”
With their newfound sense of resilience, Yusra and Sarah continued pushing forward towards their dreams of competing in professional sports; specifically, swimming at an Olympian level. The sisters settled in Germany where they started training to become professionals swimmers under esteemed coach Sven Spannenkrebs. They worked diligently – never letting go of their determination through struggles such as cultural integration issues, language barriers, homesickness, among others.
Their hard work paid off when both Yusra and Sarah earned a spot on The Refugee Olympic Team participating at Rio De Janeiro Olympics 2016—a brand new initiative launched for refugee athletes who didn’t have a national team representation but whose talent deserved recognition.
Competing without flags or anthems during competitions raised awareness about thousands of athletes worldwide who are denied opportunities because war or persecution deprived them from access to play sports at a top-tier level Moreover It helped generate a greater level of understanding about refugees’ plight whilst shedding light on humanitarian crises affecting millions around the globe.
Yusras childhood love-of-swimming had suddenly become a symbol of hope for millions around the world, who despite countless barriers to entry, still tried to pursue their passions.
After representing and finishing 40th in her swimming event at Rio Olympics 2016 she continued on to becoming the ambassador for UNHCR (The United Nations Refugee Agency), sport-for-good organizations worldwide.
Four years later, Yusra made history again as she became not only an Olympian but a World Champion too; as part of Germany’s Mixed Relay Swimming team in the International Swimming Competition.
While it would be nice to say that all’s well that ends well- the sisters’ journeys are the living embodiment of resilience: “We left Syria because of war. We spent time in Lebanon before coming to Turkey,” said Yusra. “But then we decided our journey wasn’t over yet – we wanted to come to Europe, which is why we started looking for smugglers.”
Their story illustrates how people with perseverance can overcome seemingly impossible challenges – from swimming against countless odds outside their birth country flag representation restrictions/ stateless
Yusra Mardini Sisters FAQ: Answers to Your Burning Questions about the Syrian Swimmers
The story of Yusra Mardini, the Syrian refugee who swam for her life to safety during the 2016 Rio Olympics, is one that has captivated hearts all around the world. Her incredible tale of bravery and resilience has garnered her immense attention and admiration – but what about her sisters? Who are they, and where do they fit into this narrative? In this blog post, we’ll be answering some burning questions about Yusra’s siblings: Sarah and Ranim.
Who Are Sarah and Ranim?
Sarah (22) is Yusra’s elder sister and a very talented swimmer in her own right. She represented Syria nationally before the war broke out in 2011 and had dreamt of representing her country at an international level. However, the family was forced to flee their home due to threats from the government due to their political activism, which put an end to Sarah’s athletic career.
Ranim (18) is Yusra’s younger sister who also swims competitively. She followed in Yusra’s footsteps by pursuing swimming despite not having much access to proper training facilities like many junior swimmers do around the world.
What Role Did They Play in Yusra’s Journey?
Both Sarah and Ranim were there for their sister during every step of her journey as she fled Syria with just a backpack on her back at 17 years old. All three sisters endured a harrowing journey across Europe as refugees before eventually settling in Berlin where they took up competitive swimming again thanks to generous support from local sports clubs.
Sarah acted as a coach and mentor for both Yusra & Ranim throughout their journey so far, providing valuable guidance on navigating their way through new cultures while trying to excel within competitive swimming circuits across Europe.
What About Their Own Swimming Careers?
Despite having opportunities taken away from them early on in life due to circumstances outside of their control; both Sarah & Ranim have continued to swim competitively. Sarah is currently in her final year of university, balancing her studies with coaching at a swim club in Berlin and securing employment opportunities for the future.
Ranim, on the other hand, has shown serious potential as she regularly fights for top spots at swimming competitions across Germany. In fact, after competing alongside Yusra on behalf of the Refugee Olympic Team (ROT) in Rio in 2016, she went on to make it onto the German national swimming team when they offered her refugee status.
What Does Their Future Look Like?
While all three sisters remain passionate about swimming and hope to represent their adopted country at future international competitions; they have more immediate dreams too – including opportunities that many would take for granted such as enrolling in university courses or gaining employment.
Through sheer determination and hard work, these young women have achieved great things against some daunting odds. One thing is certain: their futures are bright and whoever gets to chat with them will walk away inspired by their story of perseverance amidst adversity.
Top 5 Facts You Need to Know About Yusra Mardini and Her Sister Sarah
1. Yusra and Sarah Mardini’s Incredible Journey
Born in Syria, Yusra and Sarah learned to swim as children in Damascus thanks to their father, a swimming coach. They fled their war-torn homeland with dreams of pursuing careers as athletes and settled in Germany as refugees. In 2016, they achieved international fame when Yusra competed at the Rio Olympics as a member of the first-ever Refugee Olympic Team.
2. Yusra Mardini’s Heroic Act
In 2015, while attempting to cross the Mediterranean from Turkey to Greece on a smuggler’s boat carrying over 20 Syrian refugees, their engine stopped working midway through the journey. The passengers were stranded for three long hours until eighteen-year-old Yusra and her sister (21) jumped into the freezing water wearing non-swimming clothes alongside another woman who knew how to swim after all others had given up hope. Fighting strong waves for several hours with no physical aid while dragging the boat loaded with desperate voyagers behind them – they swam for more than three miles before finally reaching an island off Greece’s mainland coast.
3. The Sisters’ Humanitarian Work
Following her Olympic success, Yusra has dedicated herself to humanitarian work seeking justice for other refugees like herself by becoming a Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR (The United Nations High Commissioner For Refugees). Meanwhile, Sarah works tirelessly on behalf of victims of torture around the world by volunteering with various organizations such as Amnesty International and CARITAS.
4- Their Life After Fighting All Odds
While their lives have changed dramatically since fleeing Syria in search of safety, they’ve both managed to thrive in adversity; studying hard in school and pursuing interests outside of athletics that include studies related to social topics like human rights law or photography which showcase sensitive aspects surrounding everyday life issues faced by vulnerable communities globally seen through their lenses into evocative imagery highlighting our common humanity while breaking down stereotypes and stigma often associated with refugees.
5- The Footprints They Leave Behind
Ever since their courageous journey to safety and Olympic successes, the Mardini sisters have emerged as role models for millions of young girls worldwide who share the same thirst for freedom and success despite adverse circumstances. Their powerful story serves as a reminder that humanity is stronger when we work together towards a more inclusive world, free from discrimination, oppression or violence. Yusra and Sarah have become icons not just in terms of athleticism but also in their humanitarian work which has profoundly impacted those they have come across – leaving footprints of hope that inspire us all to be better version of ourselves everyday.
