Olympic swimmer and Syrian refugee Yusra Mardini fled the Syrian Civil War with her sister Sara, making the perilous journey to Europe at only seventeen, including a treacherous crossing of the Aegean Sea in 2015.
After finding refuge in Germany, Yusra was selected to compete as part of the inaugural Refugee Olympic Team at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and again in Tokyo four years later. On World Refugee Day 2023, Yusra announced the launch of her non-profit, The Yusra Mardini Foundation, which aims to improve access to sports and education for refugee communities. Yusra has become a powerful advocate for forcibly displaced people worldwide.
Episode 61 explores the challenges of living in a war-torn country, the importance of not judging refugees, and how to use your voice to make a positive impact.
We discuss:
- Being born in Syria
- Beginning to swim at age 3
- Dreaming of becoming the next Michael Phelps at age 9
- Facing the onset of war at age 13
- Enduring the traumas of the Syrian conflict
- Undertaking a 25-day journey from Syria to Germany
- Crossing the Aegean Sea on a dinghy
- Keeping the Olympic dream alive
- Helping establish the Refugee Olympic Team
- Aims to change the perception of refugees
How I Became Podcast Episode Links:
Yusra Mardini's LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/yusra-mar...
Yusra Mardini's Instagram: yusramardin...
www.yusramardinifoundation.org/
Chapters:
00:00:00 - Fleeing Syria at 13 years old
00:02:18 - From Syria to Olympic Swimming
00:04:48 - Starting Swimming at a Young Age
00:07:27 - The Daily Routine in Damascus
00:09:55 - Witnessing the Start of War in Syria
00:12:23 - Mourning the Loss in Syria
00:14:51 - The Youth Olympic Games and Political Reasons for Quitting Swimming
00:17:10 - Pursuing a Different Path in Life
00:19:22 - Life in a War Zone
00:21:30 - Packing for the Journey
00:26:24 - The Expensive Boat Journey
00:28:44 - Guardian Angels on the Boat
00:31:10 - Heartbreaking Journey across the Ocean
00:33:25 - A Life-Threatening Situation at Sea
00:35:40 - The Rescue at Sea
00:37:58 - Journey to Germany
00:40:26 - Impressive Syrian Swimmers
00:42:39 - Representing a Refugee Olympic Team
00:45:14 - The Impact of the Olympic Stadium
00:47:37 - Competing at the Olympics
00:49:54 - The Struggles and Dreams of Refugees
00:52:19 - Refugees and Stereotypes in the UK
00:54:49 - The Importance of Welcoming Immigrants in Society
00:57:10 - Supporting the Refugee Olympic Team
00:59:32 - A Heartwarming Moment
01:01:59 - A Heartfelt Story of Gratitude
Unity & Motion - unityandmotion.com/
A London-based production company specialising in commercials and branded content
Email: info@weunify.co.uk
Credits:
Director: Charles Parkinson
Poet & VO Artist: Ashley Samuels-McKenzie
Editor: Catherine Singh
#olympics #olympic #olympics2024 #refugees #refugeestories #lifestory #podcast
26 июл 2024
