Yusra Mardini, the iconic Syrian swimmer whose harrowing journey from war-torn Syria to Olympic stardom has captured the world’s heart, is again making waves. This time, she’s leading the Refugee Olympic Team as its champion at the Paris Games, calling on the world to support the latest crop of inspirational hopefuls.

In an Instagram post, Mardini called on her 804,000 followers to support the team, sharing their inspiring story of resilience and determination.. She said, “Please support them with all your hearts, and when you see them, show your support by sharing your heart with them.” 

Alongside the video, Mardini offered a behind-the-scenes look at her career highlights. One photo shows her next to a sign reading “Brazil,” captioned, “Where it all started eight years ago,” referencing her participation in the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Mardini carried the Olympic flame last week, representing the Refugee Olympic Team. The tradition of the Olympic torch relay dates back to the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

Mardini’s journey was recognized and honored in Fast Company Middle East’s Most Creative People in Business 2023 list under the Rewriting the Rules category.

Her and her sister Sarah’s story, from Syrian war refugees to Olympic athletes, has been chronicled in the BAFTA-nominated film The Swimmers. The sisters fled their war-torn home in 2015, enduring a perilous journey to Europe that included swimming for three hours to push a sinking boat to safety.

After settling in Germany, Yusra resumed her training and joined the Refugee Olympic Team, competing in the 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Beyond her athletic career, she is a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador and focuses on her Yusra Mardini Foundation, which promotes refugee education and sports opportunities.