Yusra Mardini swimmer: How I fled from Syria to play sports
Yusra Mardini grew up in Syria where she was swimming at the Olympic reserve school. Some time after the start of the war, she and her younger sister fled the country — and the escape, which had barely begun, almost ended in disaster: the motor refused a boat. Yusra and her sister jumped into the water and swam for several hours to the shores of Greece, pushing the boat with passengers.
In the end, the athlete was in Germany, continued to train, and in 2016, she performed at the Rio Olympics as a member of the refugee team. Mardini is now the UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador (a UN agency dealing with refugees). In addition, she became an Under Armor brand ambassador, taking part in the Will Finds a Way campaign, which tells about athletes with outstanding willpower. We asked the twenty-year-old swimmer if she didn’t want to give up the sport once, about her emotions in a situation when it was necessary to save lives for herself and others, and how difficult it was to adapt in a foreign country.
Sport is boring, because you have to do the same thing every day for hours. At some point I was thinking of quitting swimming - I was tired, and I was also sure that I would not achieve anything else. The war began in the country and it was difficult to train, and the prospects were uncertain. But when I stopped swimming for a while, I realized that sport is very important to me: he gave me goals, and also discipline in life and passion, the desire to do something and to strive for something. If we talk about the choice of another profession - in general, I would like to be a basketball player, but too small for this.
And, of course, swimming saved my life in a very dangerous situation, and I am grateful to him for that. Without sport, I would not have achieved what I have now. So I'm a swimmer and I want to keep swimming.
When the war began, we had to live in extremely dangerous conditions, and at some point the bombing began to occur very close to us - including where my pool and Olympic stadium were. My dad was not in the country, we didn’t have enough money all the time, mom and older sister worked, and I went swimming, studied and cared for my younger sister. It seemed to me that I was not moving anywhere, just repeating the same routine. Many friends left the country, and at some point I also decided that I could no longer stay and should start a new life.
I cannot condemn people who take money from refugees to put them in a boat and ship them to the other side, although many of them can be compared, perhaps, with drag dealer, considering the risk they put at others, taking advantage of their weakness. On the one hand, if it were not for them, I could not start a new life, on the other - through their fault I could die. I do not know how to treat them - with hatred or gratitude. Unfortunately, many people died because of them.(It happens that a little fuel is deliberately poured into the boat and it ends halfway through, so people only have a chance that they will be seen from a patrol helicopter from one of the European countries and will be saved. - Ed.). Some of those involved in transporting refugees care about their safety, but others care only for money.
When we sailed, saving the boat, it was insanely hard: you see an island, you see lights on it - but you can’t reach it at all. I want to cry, but does not work; I want to eat and drink, but this is impossible, you are in the water. You feel only salt, everywhere, in the eyes and as if even in the bones. It is impossible to give up and throw everything away - because you are responsible not only for yourself, but also for everyone who is in the boat. It was important not to lose hope and just continue, swim again and again. My sister helped me, and all the people in the boat also helped - if we had not worked together, we would not have reached the shore.
In Germany at first it was very difficult: I did not know anyone and did not speak German. The only thing that really helped me was swimming. Thanks to him, new acquaintances appeared, I had to listen and talk, German began to improve. Swimming helped me navigate and start learning - I entered a sports school. I think if I were not an athlete, it would be much more difficult for me to adapt in a new country.
Yusra Mardini played for the Olympic team of refugees in 2016
I miss everything I left in Syria. For example, we have great food that I miss. Of course, my family remained there. I think that I will come back sometime, but for now I have no idea when it will be - I hope when the war will stop.
As for the reception of refugees in Europe - we received a huge amount of assistance. Perhaps, bureaucratic issues were not resolved one hundred percent efficiently, one had to wait a long time, but this is not the fault of the receiving party. There are thousands of us refugees, and no one was ready for this, but the doors were opened for us and we were received peacefully and kindly. We are very grateful for that.
Now I am a UNHCR Ambassador, I visit refugee camps and help them to believe that life has not ended. I listen to people's stories, try to understand what they need, and try to help with something. I love this job: it seemed that I know a lot about refugees, but thanks to this organization I learn more and more. I think that my will and desire for the best can inspire others. Always have a goal, want to continue, never give up is not easy, and this applies to sports, and to life in general. I am an example for many people, and this is a big responsibility, but I am ready for it.
As for sports plans, in July I will have a world championship, and I also want to play at the Olympic games in Tokyo in 2020. In late April, my book is published in Germany, while in English and German - I don’t know if it will be translated into others. Planned and a Hollywood film about me, but so far no one knows when he will see the light.
Photo: Yusra mardi