From Syrian war zone to the Rio Olympics, Maria Hunstig meets the miraculous Mardinis – and the sisters who play them in NetflixUK’s drama, ‘The Swimmers’.
On a sunny Berlin afternoon, at a lido next to the river Spree, sisters Sara and Yusra Mardini are joking around with Manal and Nathalie Issa, the actors who will portray the refugees turned Olympic swimmer and campaigner in this winter’s, it’s hard to believe the four have hardly ever met in person. And almost impossible to imagine what it took them to get here.
The Mardini sisters’ story is well told, yet never fails to leave you speechless. Yusra and Sara, who grew up close to Damascus, were gifted swimmers, coached by a passionate father. Yet, in the summer of 2015, aged 17 and 20, the two had to flee the bombs of the Syrian civil war, leaving behind their parents and younger sister.
From Greece, the Mardinis took a land route across the Balkans, partly by foot, and ultimately arrived in Berlin. Yusra couldn’t wait to train again and found a swimming club and coach who helped her achieve her most cherished dream: swimming at the Olympics. In 2016 she competed in Rio de Janeiro, part of the Games’ first Refugee Olympic Team, winning one of her heats in butterfly. Later that year, she was listed byas one of “The 30 Most Influential Teens of 2016”.
“After the Olympics, I realised that it’s not just my story anymore. I realised that my responsibility is to raise awareness and bring hope to millions of refugees around the world and speak for all of those who do not have a voice,” she tells me, emphatically. From the shy, worried teenager depicted in the movie, Yusra has clearly developed a warm and confident presence.
Belgique Dernières Nouvelles, Belgique Actualités
Similar News:Vous pouvez également lire des articles d'actualité similaires à celui-ci que nous avons collectés auprès d'autres sources d'information.
TikTok raises livestream age after BBC exposes child beggingBBC News found hundreds of accounts going live from Syrian camps, with children begging for donations.
Lire la suite »
Goole: M62 Ouse Bridge westbound closure after rain causes potholesThe westbound road surface on the Ouse Bridge near Goole has been damaged following heavy rain.
Lire la suite »
Resident Evil 4 (2023) is a more faithful remake than we expected | VGCResident Evil 4 is a more faithful remake than we expected. Find hands-on impressions and 4K video via the link.
Lire la suite »