'Being a refugee is not a choice': How a two-time Olympian turned survival into hope

Khaleej Times

5 days ago

At just 17, Yusra Mardini fled a war-torn Syria, crossing nine countries and nearly drowning at sea, before finding safety in Germany. Years later, the world watched as she carried the white flag of the Refugee Olympic Team into the Tokyo Games — a symbol of strength, survival, and hope. But in Budapest 2022, Yusra swam her final race for the team that changed her life.
As her competitive chapter with the Refugee Team came to a close, a new one opened with the release of The Swimmers on Netflix, a powerful film that tells her extraordinary story. More than just a biopic, the film sparked deeper conversations about what it means to be a refugee. 'Being a refugee is not a choice,' she tells wknd. 'Our only choice was to die at home or risk death trying to escape.'
Now a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador and global voice for displaced communities, Yusra continues to inspire — both in and out of the water.
Swimming for life
Swimming was always part of Yusra's life, growing up in Damascus. But when war shattered her homeland, it became the very thing that kept her alive. In 2015, she and her sister Sara fled Syria, braving a perilous journey across nine countries. When their overloaded dinghy began to sink in the Aegean Sea, the sisters leapt into the water, using their strength and skill to guide the boat and its passengers to safety.
They eventually found refuge in Berlin. There, Yusra was embraced by the club Wasserfreunde Spandau 04, where her Olympic dreams were rekindled. Just one year later, she was competing in Rio as part of the first-ever Refugee Olympic Team, later returning for Tokyo 2020.
Competing without a flag
Yusra's Olympic journey began in 2016 when she competed in Rio as part of the first-ever Refugee Team.
Walking into Rio's Maracanã Stadium was a defining moment. 'I wasn't fully comfortable with the label 'refugee' then,' she recalls. 'But that moment changed everything. I realised the Refugee Team wasn't just about sport — it was about hope.'
She competed again in Tokyo 2020 under entirely different circumstances — amid a global pandemic, in isolation, because she couldn't get sick. 'Both Games were incredibly tough,' she says, 'but my stubbornness and belief in my dream carried me through.'
Competing without a national flag raised complex questions of identity. For Yusra, the answer is layered but clear. 'I'm more than a flag. I'm Syrian. I was hosted in Germany. I live in the US. I am a refugee, a swimmer, a storyteller. My identity is all of it. I've learned I can feel at home anywhere because I know who I am.' This fluid identity has given her strength and a unique platform to advocate for displaced people worldwide.
In 2022, at the World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, Yusra swam her last race as part of the Refugee Olympic Team, a fitting finale to an extraordinary athletic chapter.
On Netflix
When The Swimmers premiered on Netflix in November, millions were swept into the gripping true story of two sisters who swam for their lives to survive. For Yusra, watching her life play out on screen was more than emotional — it was transformative. 'It was surreal,' she says. 'I laughed, I cried. I was proud of the moments I didn't give up. But this movie wasn't just about me. It was about millions of refugees whose stories go unheard.'
Yusra wasn't on set for most of the filming of The Swimmers as she was in the thick of training for her second Olympic Games, and Covid restrictions were in full force.
But she was very involved in every aspect of the film. 'We spent weeks with the scriptwriter sharing every detail of our journey. We spoke with the director at length to make sure the story stayed authentic to what my sister and I lived through,' she shares. 'I only made it to the very last day of filming,' she recalls. 'But even from a distance, I felt connected to every step of the process.'
Dramatic, raw, and deeply human, The Swimmers captured Yusra and Sara's terrifying journey from Syria to Europe. In one unforgettable scene, they leap from a sinking rubber dinghy into the frigid Aegean Sea and swim for hours, pulling the boat and its passengers to safety.
'That part was definitely difficult to revisit,' Yusra says. 'I know how many people have lost their lives trying to make that same journey. So many people didn't make it,' she says. 'It's hard, but necessary to show the world the reality. It's not just my story. It's a shared pain.'
But amid the trauma, there were moments that filled her with pride.
'One scene that really moved me was seeing myself achieve my dream — making it to the Rio Olympics,' she smiles. 'That reminded me how far I've come, and how strong I had to be to get there.'
A voice for the voiceless
Today, Yusra uses her voice not just in stadiums, but in classrooms, refugee camps, boardrooms, and stages around the world. As a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, she is tireless in reiterating to the world: 'Being a refugee is not a choice. It's a last resort.'
She's been honoured with TIME's '30 Most Influential Teens', the Bambi Award for 'Silent Heroes', and UNICEF's Global Goal 'Girls Award'. But the real reward, she says, is meeting young refugees and sharing their resilience. 'Representing refugees is not a burden — it's a responsibility I carry with pride.'
To further her impact, she launched the Yusra Mardini Foundation, which provides refugee youth with access to education and sport. 'Sports gave me my future,' she says. 'Now I want to pass that gift on.'
Beyond the pool
While swimming changed Yusra's life, she's now diving into other passions. She's currently studying film and storytelling in the US, with dreams of becoming a filmmaker. 'I want to tell stories like mine. Not just to entertain — but to open hearts and minds.'
She's also eyeing the world of fashion, envisioning a brand that blends creativity with purpose. 'If I start a label, proceeds will support refugee causes,' she says. 'Everything I do will always be tied to helping others.'
Public speaking, humanitarian work, filmmaking — Yusra is building a legacy beyond athletics. 'My Olympic days may be over,' she says, 'but my mission is lifelong.'
A book that left a lasting impression in Yusra's life is The Why Are You Here Café. Her favourite swim stroke is the butterfly, a fitting choice for someone who's spent her life pushing against the current. And when it comes to home, she says, 'Home is Syria, but also anywhere I feel comfortable and happy — where I can thrive in my environment.'
Once measured in seconds and medals, success for Yusra now has a new meaning. 'Success is kindness, growth, learning something new, helping someone. It's staying grounded and true to your journey without comparing it to others.'
If she could put one message on a billboard seen by the world?
'We are bodies without souls when we leave our dreams behind.'