The young Syrian woman who saved the lives of 20 people and now shines at the Olympics
At the opening of the Olympics, besides the Brazilian team, another group was very cheered: the refugee athletes. They come from countries like Ethiopia, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo and impress with the stories of struggle and overcoming
Among them, a young woman stood out: Yusra Mardini, just 18 years old, fled the Civil War in Syria, which, in more than 5 years, has killed approximately 500, 000 people.
Yusra competed last Saturday and ended up not qualifying for the butterfly swim semifinal, but nonetheless continued to display a beautiful smile that captured the crowd.
About a year ago, the young woman went through a real ordeal: amid the terrible and risky escapes of the citizens, the engine of the boat she was in began to fail
Finding no other solution, Yusra and her sister Sarah jumped into the freezing waters to solve the problem.
Realizing that the engine was not running, the sisters swam the boat for more than three hours until they reached the Greek island of Lesbos. Together they saved the lives of 20 people.
The girls went to Germany where, with the appointment of an NGO, they were able to join a club. Less than a year later, she is participating in an Olympics
In her Facebook profile, the athlete posted: "It was an incredible experience to compete in the Olympic Games. Thanks to all who support me and work so I can live my dreams."
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