Yusra Mardini urges the world to ‘open hearts and minds’ to the Refugee Olympic Team
Yusra Mardini is undoubtedly a beacon of hope.
The now-retired swimmer, and two-time Olympian, has seen her story well documented, even becoming a Netflix movie.
From fleeing war-torn Syria with her sister Sarah to competing at Rio 2016 and then being a flag bearer at Tokyo 2020, it is a tale of real courage and resilience.
The moment the Refugee Olympic Team - the first of its kind at this point - received a standing ovation in Brazil, it changed Mardini’s perspective on sports and life.
Now the 26-year-old is calling on the world to ‘open their hearts and minds’ for the latest crop of inspirational hopefuls descending on Paris for the upcoming Olympic Games Paris 2024.
Made up of 36 athletes from 11 different countries, each with their own story to tell, this year’s IOC Refugee Olympiic Team will represent more than 100 million displaced people at Paris 2024.
And Mardini will be there alongside them this summer: she will be covering the Refugee Olympic Team for Warner Bros. Discovery during Paris 2024 in her new role as a Eurosport Reporter.
As the Games near, Olympics.com caught up with Yusra on life post-retirement and her message to the athletes now in the same position she was eight years ago.
Mardini helping to carry the IOC flag at the Tokyo 2020 opening ceremony.
Yusra Mardini: Refugee athletes have incredible stories
There is nothing more important for Yusra than showing the humility of the athletes that will be representing the Refugee Olympic Team this summer, as well as their homelands.
So when we asked her what she would want the world to know about these competitors, her answer came with an air of ease about it.
“I want [the world] to know that they’re funny, they’re kind, they’re brave and they have incredible stories,” she told Olympics.com.
“When I met a few of them that were on the team back then, I was truly inspired by the way they approached life.
“They were so positive and they have a different perspective about the world, and I love that about them.”
Just as they have done for her, Mardini is hopeful that the world will open their hearts and minds to support refugees, and use it as a chance to become more educated.
“I just hope the world will open their hearts and minds to them and hear their stories,” she continued.
“[I want them to] be influenced in a good way, to welcome more refugees, to open more doors for refugees, and to support safe passage.
“But I think we have to learn to educate everyone around us about what a refugee is and why they leave their countries.”
There is perhaps no better person to help them tell their stories, than someone who has been in that exact position before.
It also makes Mardini very well qualifieid to share some advice for the athletes attending the upcoming Games, some of whom will be competing at this level for the very first time.
“My advice would be to focus on doing your own thing,” said Yusra, speaking from experience.
“If you feel overwhelmed, you should talk to someone from the team, they have people tot ake care of them on-site.
“I just wish them the best of luck and I want them to enjoy every single moment of it and do the things that they do best, which is their sports.”
Yusra Mardini competing at Rio 2016
Yusra Mardini: Being on the other side of the pool
After competing at Rio 2016, and Tokyo 2020, being on the other side of the pool is going to be a different sensation for the Darayya-born retired swimmer.
“It’s bittersweet, to be honest with you,” she began.
“I really miss the water, I miss being around it… but I don’t miss racing!”
Understandably, dedicating her entire life to this discipline is going to take some time to move on from, but as much as Yusra misses it, there is an equal sense of gratitude to be there for another Olympic cycle.
“I think I am very lucky to be around for a third Olympics, even if I’m not an athlete anymore.
“The Olympic Games is just so special that I am lucky to be there in any way.”
And what makes Paris 2024 all the more special for a lot of competitors, is that it will be the first gender-equal Games in history.
Announced in 2023, it presents another monumental step forward for equality in sport.
“I think it’s incredible to shed light on women,” Mardini tells us.
“We also put in the hard work, sweat, and tears and now we have equal opportunities for both men and women. I’m really excited to see what athletes will do.
“I think in general the Games are going to be incredible - it is in Paris after all, so it’s in the dream city, and I’m just really excited.”
Before she heads to Europe, though, Yusra is settled in her home of California where she is currently studying film and TV broadcast.
For all that she has been through, she remains an ever present symbol of hope for those who are in the same place she once was.
The world knows her journey, now it is time for her to share the stories of others.