Syrian refugee keeps her Olympic dream alive
Elite swimmer, Yusra Mardini, fled Syria with her sister, walked across Turkey, survived a harrowing Aegean Sea crossing then trekked for months across Europe. She now belongs to a group of 43 refugee-athletes the IOC will support on their road to qualification for Rio Olympics. After checking out her times, a Berlin club agreed to train her.
Yusra Mardini of Syria dives into the pool before a training session at the Wasserfreunde Spandau 04 training pool in Berlin.Alexander Hassenstein
Yusra, 18, hopes to qualify in the 200-metre freestyle for the IOC Refugee Olympic Athletes team.Alexander Hassenstein
Yusra listens to coach Sven Spannekrebs during a training session.Alexander Hassenstein
Yusra (C) of Syria listens to the coach’s instructions. He thinks she is fast enough to qualify for the IOC refugee team.Alexander Hassenstein
Yusra and her sister were among Syria’s brightest swimming stars until the war interrupted their training.Alexander Hassenstein
“I want refugees to be proud of me,” she says. “I just want to encourage them”Alexander Hassenstein
Yusra shares a light moment with other club swimmers.Alexander Hassenstein
After a training session, Yusra prepares for class.Alexander Hassenstein
Her daily regimen includes school, training, more school and more training.Alexander Hassenstein
Yusra feels the loss of her homeland but sees the Olympic possibility as “the chance of a lifetime.”Alexander Hassenstein