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cali

(114,904 posts)
Sun Aug 7, 2016, 03:56 PM Aug 2016

Syrian refugee athlete who saved 20 lives pushing boat, wins swimming heat at Rio

Syrian teenager wins first Rio 2016 heat of women’s 100m butterfly

18-year-old dragged dinghy carrying refugees to safety in Mediterranean

There will be plenty of inspiring swims in the Rio pool this week but few to match the personal odyssey completed by Yusra Mardini on the opening day of competition. Last year the Syrian teenager was battling in the sea for survival with fellow asylum seekers while trying to reach the Greek island of Lesbos. To go from there to winning the opening heat of the 100m butterfly at the Olympic Games is the ultimate illustration of drawing strength from adversity.

For those minded to complain about minor irritations in Rio such as humidity in the aquatics centre or a few nibbling insects, the 18-year-old’s story should serve as a timely reminder of life’s more pressing issues. Last summer Mardini and her sister Sarah fled their home in Damascus for Beirut, Istanbul and finally Izmir in Turkey, where they managed to squeeze on to a dinghy crossing the Mediterranean. Thirty minutes into their journey the motor stopped and the overcrowded boat, carrying 20 people, threatened to capsize.

There was no option but for Yusra, Sarah and another woman to enter the water and push and drag the dinghy towards the shore. They were the only ones on board who could swim. “I thought it would be a real shame if I drowned in the sea, because I am a swimmer,” Mardini said last week. The proximity of the open ocean off Rio might have stirred some uncomfortable flashbacks.

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https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/aug/06/yusra-mardini-100m-butterfly-heat-win-refugee-olympic-team-rio-2016

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Syrian refugee athlete who saved 20 lives pushing boat, wins swimming heat at Rio (Original Post) cali Aug 2016 OP
She is an inspiration! I am rooting for her! TheDonnasRule Aug 2016 #1
even though she won her heat, her time did not qualify her to move on, unfortunately. Takket Aug 2016 #2
True, but it's still an inspirational story. cali Aug 2016 #3
She'll be back. Volaris Aug 2016 #7
Bravo for her! smirkymonkey Aug 2016 #4
K and R. Mosby Aug 2016 #5
I read about her yesterday. sheshe2 Aug 2016 #6
Message auto-removed Name removed Aug 2016 #8

Response to cali (Original post)

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