Yusra Mardini is just 18 years old. But she has already made history as part of the first refugee team to compete in the Olympic Games. Mardini and her sister had to flee from their home country of Syria last year. They crossed the Mediterranean Sea in a dinghy, which they helped push through choppy waves. Eventually they made it to Germany, where Mardini has been training as a swimmer.
Mardini and nine other athletes marched under the Olympic flag during the Opening Ceremony of the 2016 Olympic Games inRio de Janeiro, Brazil. On Saturday morning, she won her heat for the 100-meter butterfly. She did not advance to the semifinals, but she will be swimming again in the 100-meter freestyle later this week.
