The will to change
From refugee to Olympian: Yusra Mardini’s incredible journey has inspired a generation. Now she’s using her story of hope to bring Change for the Better.
From refugee to Olympic inspiration
Yusra's escape from the Syrian civil war led her and her sister on a refugee journey. Their dinghy broke down at sea. As exceptional swimmers, they swam for hours, towing the boat to Lesbos.
UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador
Asylum-seeker Yusra, after reaching Berlin, trained as an Olympic swimmer. She represented the Refugee Olympic Team in butterfly events at Rio and Tokyo Olympics. At 19, she became the youngest UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, advocating for displaced people.
Bringing Change for the Better
Yusra's story, published in the book Butterfly, was adapted into a Netflix film, The Swimmers. As a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, she advocates for refugees. In 2023, she became an Oris Ambassador, partnering with The Yusra Mardini Foundation to bring Change for the Better.
