Shining a light on the Refugee team at the Olympics

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Having fled the Syrian Civil War aged just seventeen, Yusra Mardini competed in swimming for the first ever Refugee Team at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Five years later in Tokyo, she had the honour of carrying the team flag at the opening ceremony. Now a goodwill ambassador for the UN, Yusra will be making a difference out of the pool in Paris, working as a reporter telling the stories of the current refugee athletes. She tells Caroline Barker why it’s maybe more important than ever to champion the athletes and shine an even bigger spotlight on them at this summer’s Games. Yusra also recounts her story when she fled Syria for Germany in 2015, including her extraordinary sea crossing from Turkey to Greece. Photo: Members of the Refugee Olympic Team parade during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. (Credit: AFP via Getty Images)