Yusra Mardini - Retold by Aleenah

Yusra Mardini

Yusra Mardini is known as an olympian, refugee, swimmer. She swims for a team in Germany. Yusra had a tough life trying to reach her goal. Here are Yusra's main life events.

Yusra Mardini was born in Syria with her parents and older sister. As a young girl, she was afraid of the water in the swimming pools. She would sit at the edge of the pool staring at the water. When Yusra finally got to courage, she went into the pool and started swimming competitively. From then on, Her father trained she and her sister to swim better and better. Yusra enjoyed and loved swimming.

A couple years later, Yusra's country, turned into a place of quiet into a place of terror. Her hometown was in war. Rebel and innocent people kept dying. Everyone was living in fear even Yusra's family. 

That was also the time her little sister was a toddler. The family left the city and moved to another. Safety there only lasted a year when the troops started to head towards the town. The swimming pool that Yusra loved was now dusty and the water was filled with dirt. She wanted to leave. She kept begging her parents but they refused. It was WAY to dangerous for them and her little sister.

A family friend invited Yusra and her sister to evacuate the country and move to Berlin, Germany. She brought a few clothes, a phone and some money to bribe the smugglers into crossing each border. They left cautiously. Yusra was terrified just in case the police caught them. 

When they paid the smuggler, they were hiding behind the trees. When they left on boat they were caught by the guards and were forced to go back onto shore. They hid behind the trees for a while but then made a run for it in midnight. 

20 minutes after they left on boat, the engine stopped. Everyone tried hard to fix it but nothing worked. Water started rising and again people tried to toss them out but nothing worked even throwing their belongings. Yusra gave the look of  'you-know-what-I'm-thinking' to her sister. They jumped into the cold, salty water and all 4 swimmers pushed and pulled the boat towards an island nearby. A boy was staring at Yusra, even though Yusra was in pain, she managed a 'it'll-all'-be-okay' smile at the 6 yr old boy. After 3 and a half hours, they were on the shore of the island.

Yusra was relieved. The trip didn't stop there. She travelled with the refugees crossing  borders from every chance they get. Though they were once caught by the hungarian police and was sent to a refugee camp. On the way they were laughing hysterically because they told the officer 'you think this is threatening? because we just crossed the mediterranean sea thinking we'll die!'. When they got the opportunity they left the camp and travelled until they reached Berlin.

It took them months but they were safe and alive. She was sleeping on the roads and camps. She then heard a swimming club. Yusra was eager to join so she went to tryouts. She was tired so she wasn't at her full best but the coach knew she was good and loved swimming. She then evolved in swimming and her life at Germany. 

Yusra Mardini  is an aspiring character. She was full of bravery and courage. Now she is a famous olympian swimmer and her family is with her now living peacefully in Germany.

Images:
Swimming Yusra
Her talking/ Last Photo