Yusira Mardini -famous for swimming the perilous seas for three hours in order to save the lives of endangered refugees from drowning, was honored at the inaugural Global Goals Awards in New York.
Yusira fled Syria along with her sister was the house got destroyed in the ongoing Syrian conflict.
But half way through the journey the boat which was overloaded(carrying 20 people instead of 6) broke down right in the middle of the open waters.
With no shoreline in sight Yusira alongside her sister(and 2 others who could swim) decided to push the boat swimming for 3 hours from Turkey till they got to the Greek Island of Lesbos,and gradually weaved her way through most of central Europe with her sister before arriving in Berlin in 2015.
Even though she was now a refugee in Berlin,that didn't deter her from her dream of becoming a great swimmer,and the opportunity opened up through the Refugee Olympic Athletes (ROA)-where she made her mark in swimming, and is celeberated today for her bravery and determination.
When recieving her award she didn't leave without a note of inspiration,here is what she said:
"This experience (the Olympics) has also given me a voice," she said. "I want to change perceptions of refugees. It is not a choice to flee your home, and refugees can achieve anything."
Congratulations Yusira!!
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