Not many athletes are heard to retire from competitive swimming at the tender age of 25. However, not every swimmer gets to leave a lasting impression outside the pool. A few chosen ones capture the hearts of millions worldwide with their story. It was not long ago since Yusra Mardini announced her retirement from professional swimming. The Syrian refugee became an inspiration to millions when she competed in the Rio 2016 Olympics.

In 2016, the world witnessed Yusra’s extraordinary journey when she became a member of the Refugee Olympic Athletes Team that competed in the Rio Olympics. She is a two-time Olympian who also competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Recently, Yusra took to her Instagram story to engage with her followers and answer their burning questions.

Why did Yusra Mardini retire at 25?

Mardini began swimming at a young age in Damascus, Syria. She was a promising young athlete before the Syrian Civil War broke out in 2011. In 2015, Mardini and her sister Sarah fled Syria and made the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean Sea to Europe. It was only last month when the former UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador retired from swimming. Mardini penned a long note on her Instagram and informed her followers that she was retiring at 25 years old. More recently, she undertook a Q&A session on her Instagram stories, and one question, in particular, stood out. “Why did you stop swimming?” Mardini replied that participating in the Olympic Games has exposed her to reality. She now realizes the amount of work that still needs to be done in the world.

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Mardini further said, “I already achieved my goals in my swimming career and it’s time for something new.” She claimed that swimming will always be her favorite thing in the world and she wishes to remain close to the sport in every possible way. However, she does not wish to pursue swimming as a professional athlete anymore.

Since Rio, Mardini has become a prominent advocate for refugees. She has spoken at the United Nations and other international forums, and she has worked to raise awareness of the plight of refugees around the world. Yusra and Sarah’s survival journey is well documented and highlights the plight of refugees all over the world.

The survival story of the Mardini sisters

After civil war broke out in Syria, both sisters had to flee their homes in 2015. On being smuggled to Greece with 18 other refugees, their boat’s motor stopped working and the boat started flooding. Without hesitation, the two Mardini sisters and two other people jumped into the water. It was the efforts of these 4 people, who pulled the boat full of migrants and swam for over 3 hours, and eventually saved everyone. They safely arrived at Lesbos, from where they eventually moved on to Berlin.

Read more: “You Inspired The World”: Katie Ledecky and Lindsey Vonn Join Sports World in Saluting Olympic Swimmer Who Survived Syrian War

As she gracefully stepped away from her career as a professional athlete, Yusra Mardini’s story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the boundless potential that lies within each of us. From the refugee camps to the Olympic pool, she has navigated an extraordinary path, inspiring countless souls along the way.

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