Why is Yusra Mardini a hero?
Follow Us
Yusra Mardini
Yusra Mardini is a legend in herself with a story probably second to none. She’s a fighter and not just in terms of her sport. Yusra competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics but her journey to reach there is in itself a struggle let alone the stiff competition one faces in the Olympics.
Mardini has been putting herself to rigorous training for Wasserfreunde Spandau 04, a pool built by the Nazi faction way back in 1936. Mardini’s story is surely not as bad as the Jews faced back then, but it’s an indication of her steel-like mentality of fighting against all the odds and coming out triumphant.
Mardini, a refugee, was competing on the refugee team of the Olympics which they introduced for the first time. She was put in the pool to compete in the 100-meter freestyle and the 100-meter butterfly. On the contrary, if we look in hindsight, Yusra Mardini would be found swimming in the Mediterranean Sea fighting for her life and many others.
It’s not luck that saved Yusra Mardini but her ‘WILL’ to survive
Let’s dig into it a bit more. It was 2011 when the Syrian war broke out with Mardini only 13. Fast forward a year, and her family’s house was torn to shreds following the Daraya massacre. Amidst all this, Yusra’s love for her country didn’t fade and she held her head high when competing in the 2012 FINA World Swimming Championships. in three different events.
Coming back to the war, Yusra Mardini along with her sister left war-torn Syria and found themselves on a monumental expedition for their survival that involved traveling to Germany via Lebanon, Turkey, Greece, the Balkans, and middle Europe. As luck would have it, a journey with so many obstacles already, had one more serious barrier in surprise for her. Halfway to Greece from Turkey, her rowboat broke for which they literally jumped in the water to save.
Further ahead, the border agents got hold of them and sent them back from Turkey. Their second time also did not bring them much luck as their engine died and they were once again left stranded. Mardini sisters along with two men from the whole pack of people were the only ones who knew swimming and they decided to make a dash for their destination and thus jumped in the water and helped the boat to steer along them. HEROIC!!
They swam for three and half hours straight with no guarantee of themselves arriving at their final destination in one piece. Mardini said – “I’m thinking, what? I’m a swimmer, and I’m going to die in the water in the end?” This is what kept her going and at last, they made it to Germany against all impediments that came their way. She portrayed the world – “It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves”.
Also read:- Which country has won the most medals in Swimming at Tokyo Olympics?
Also read:- What is the Secret Behind the Rise of China in Swimming at Tokyo Olympics?
Do follow us on: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Stay Updated!
Prasenjeet Singh
(251 Articles Published)