Yusra Mardini is not only a professional swimmer, but also an encourager for millions of refugees around the world. She comes from Syria, where her career as a swimmer began under her father's training. In 2015, Yusra came to Germany as a refugee herself, along with her sister Sara. On the run, her training paid off: She saved the lives of nearly 20 people.
Once in Germany, she came to the attention of the Berlin club Wasserfreunde Spandau 04 - from then on, things went steeply uphill. Yusra participated as part of the Refugee Team in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo. A film about her life was released on Netflix in late 2022. A documentary on ARD and Arte followed in July 2023.
We have for you 6 exciting facts about a swimmer who is far more than just a competitive athlete and reveal what Mardini does today.
Facts overview
- Youngest UNHCR ambassador ever
- Spandau instead of Damascus
- A warm-up for Barack Obama
- No face for a tea pack
- A film on Netflix
- ARD documentary about Sara Mardini's commitment to humanity
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