Twitter reacts to Syrian refugee swimmer Yusra Mardini’s heat win
Mardini made it to Greece as a refugee after pushing an overcrowded dinghy boat for three hours through the Mediterranean
News of Syrian refugee swimmer Yusra Mardini's preliminary win of her heat during the 100m butterfly on Saturday quickly gained social media traction over the past few days, with many celebrating her courage and triumph at passing the first stage of the competition.
#YusraMardini wins! An icone of hope & courage. #RefugeeOlympicTeam pic.twitter.com/gD9IIeaoPa
— Rula Jebreal (@rulajebreal) August 8, 2016
A reminder of who refugees are: Syrian refugee competing in Rio pushed a sinking boat to safety for 3 hrs & saved 20 https://t.co/wLvzBrBoNG
— Kristen Bell (@IMKristenBell) August 6, 2016
What a sight!: Yusra Mardini - a refugee who fled civil war in Syria - wins her Olympic swimming heat
— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) August 6, 2016
pic.twitter.com/95WGWxkzJj
The amazing #YusraMardini finishes 1st in 100 butterfly heat! #TeamRefugees @RefugeesOlympic pic.twitter.com/HV2YOugJq7
— Melissa Fleming (@melissarfleming) August 6, 2016
Competing behind the Olympic flag, Mardini is part of the Games' first ever Team Refugee, made up of fellow Syrian swimmer Rami Anis and nine other athletes who have fled their country due to war and conflict.
Yusra Mardini's story is incredible.
— W. (@_w_alexander) August 8, 2016
Yusra is brilliant but wonder if sudden - and possibly temporary - elevation to celebrity status also has downsides:https://t.co/4MlcwUcxhU
— Jeff Crisp (@JFCrisp) August 8, 2016
Swimmer #YusraMardini's achievement: from fleeing war to winning her first @Olympics heat. Go #TeamRefugees! pic.twitter.com/STbq0ZQVV8
— Filippo Grandi (@RefugeesChief) August 6, 2016
Awesome: Yusra Mardini, a Syrian on the Refugee Team, wins her heat in the 100m butterfly. #ROT
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) August 6, 2016
Mabrouk #YusraMardini, you did it! Forced to flee #Syria but master of your destiny.Made #Refugees & all of us proud https://t.co/ddzlMrco3K
— Robert Mardini (@RMardiniICRC) August 7, 2016
Mardini's refugee story gained prominence in the run up to the Olympics after it was revealed that she helped push an overcrowded dinghy boat for three hours through the Mediterranean Sea to reach the Greek island of Lesbos.
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