Olympic swimmer Yusra Mardini came to Germany as a Syrian refugee. Today she is world famous. An interview about the possibilities of sport, home and dreams.
In 2015, at the age of 17, swimmer Yusra Mardini fled from Syria to Germany with her older sister Sarah, another swimmer. During their flight, the engine was lost on the tugboat, where the sisters and other people were traveling between Turkey and Greece. The boat threatened to capsize. Floating, Yusra and Sarah held it stable in the water for 3.5 hours and thus saved the lives of 20 men, women and children.
Arrived in Berlin, Yusra found a swimming club and joined the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil as part of the refugee team . From that point on Yusra became more and more the focus of the media. Meanwhile, the 21-year-old is under contract as an Under Armor athlete, has been honored with a sister in the category of "Silent Heroes" for a Bambi and is a special ambassador for the refugee relief organization UNHCR.
We talked to Yusra Mardini about her home, what swimming is about, and what goals and dreams she is pursuing now.
This article is part of #wunderbarECHT, an action for more authenticity on the net. Be there!
When did you start swimming training?
I started swimming when I was four years old and I have been training properly since I was six.
You lived in Syria for years while there was war around you. After all, you and your sister and you decide to leave the country. What was the reason for this?
There was more than one reason, but the most obvious is that we were no longer safe and could no longer live a normal life. We did not know if we could survive another day and that was terrible.
In your book "Butterfly" you describe the flight from Syria to Germany. How did it feel to relive those days?
It was hard and very sad, at the same time I am proud that I have done all this together with my family and my sister. I am grateful for everything that has happened, and I now use it as motivation in my everyday life. This story will always be part of me.
What does swimming mean to you? And has this meaning changed in the last few years since you were in Germany?
I feel safe swimming and it has been my passion since I was little. No, that has not changed. I love it even more, because it saved my life.
Who do you swim for? What is the message you want to send?
First of all, I swim for myself and second, to make my family proud. Then I also swim for all the refugees who have lost a lot, but who got up again and started to dream again. I want to help them find their way back by seeing what happens in my life.
How did it feel to participate in the 2016 Olympics?
It felt like a beautiful dream, but it was the reality. I was proud to represent millions and present the Olympic flag, which in turn stands for athletes around the world.
How did swimming help you with the integration here in Germany?
Swimming has helped me make new friends and be open to change.
You fled with your older sister. How has this changed your relationship and what do you think about your commitment to other refugees?
Our relationship has always been strong, but it has become even stronger after our trip. I think she does a great job. I support her and trust her work because she is the kind of person who gives everything without expecting anything in return. That's the beauty of it.
Are you still in contact with people from Syria?
Yes, I still have friends and family there.
Could you imagine returning to Syria and living there?
Yes, I can do that. I love my country and I will always love it.
Could you imagine representing Syria as an athlete someday?
Yes, I can imagine that.
Since April 2017 you are UN Special Ambassador for Refugees. Since October 2017 you represent the international brand Under Armor. How does it feel to be so famous, and what has changed for you since then?
It's crazy what happened in my life in the last few years. But I'm still a normal person who works hard to swim well to help refugees. I would like to study after the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Yes, it is crazy to have done all this. But I'm still a normal person with goals and dreams.
What's your next goal?
As an athlete it is the Olympic Games 2020 in Tokyo. As a young woman, I want to focus on working hard to help as many refugees as I can.
Other #wonderful topics:
- How Crohn's disease saved my life
- Interview with "Mutruf" founder: Chris Gust helps with anxiety and panic attacks
- #FilterFREItag - or: Why the filter may even have FREI
- Sarah Kuttner: "I'm probably the least perfect person"
