"I learned of Yusra Mardini and the 'Regugee Olympic Team' at the opening ceremony of Rio Olympics on TV. After reading about her story, I felt sorry first for her and her family," Marion Smith, an ordinary Berlin citizen told Xinhua on Saturday, when asked about the Syrian swimmer, who fled her country to Germany last August.

That was truly an experience full of danger. As Mardini's home was destroyed in the Syrian war in 2015, she and her sister decided to leave their homeland for Germany, the destination of hundreds of thousands of war refugees in the Middle East.

Before arriving in Europe, the motor of the boat carrying them with other 18 refugees stopped working in the Mediterranean. Mardini, her sister and another two had to jump into the water to push the boat for over three hours until it reached Greece.

Fortunately, 18-year-old Mardini survived the battle with the sea.

After settling down in Berlin, she continued her training with the help of a local swimming club.

Another turning point of her life came when she was selected as one of the 10 refugee athletes under the name of "Refugee Olympic Team" to compete at the Rio Olympic Games.

Last Saturday and this Wednesday, Mardini participated in the heats of 100m butterfly and 100m freestyle. Though her performances were not good enough to send her to the semifinals, her wide-reported life story has touched Germany, where she now lives.

Many German newspapers, magazines and TV channels have focused on her.

Melanie Haack, a sport news editor of the newspaper "die Welt", said, "Mardini's jump into the swimming pool in Rio is a victory."

Viva TV, a German music TV channel, called Mardini "the coolest athlete of the Olympics" and "the true definition of hero."

"Meanwhile, I think she delivers to other refugees courage and persistence of fighting for a better future," Smith said.

It echoed Mardini's own words when she was asked by media to give advice to other teenager swimmers before the Olympics, "Never give up."

Source : XINHUA