Butterfly: From Refugee to Olympian, My Story of Rescue, Hope and Triumph

(Paperback)

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The inspirational story behind the film The Swimmers on Netflix 'An extraordinary tale of bravery, survival, and winsome, never-give-up moxie. It is impossible not to be won over by Yusra.' - Khaled Hosseini It's important the world understands what many ordinary people must endure to find a safe place to live. If it will help others, I'll tell my story a million times. When war broke out in her native Syria, Yusra Mardini fled to the Turkish coast in 2015 and boarded a small dinghy full of refugees bound for Greece. When the small and overcrowded boat's engine cut out, it began to sink. Instinctively, Yusra and her sister took to the treacherous open water and guided the boat for three and a half hours, helped by two other refugees, until they eventually landed on Lesbos, saving the lives of the passengers aboard. Butterfly is the story of that remarkable woman, whose journey started in a war-torn suburb of Damascus and took her through Europe to Berlin and from there to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo. Yusra Mardini is an athlete, one of People magazine's twenty-five women changing the world, on the list of TIME Magazine's most influential teens, and one of the the youngest UNHCR Goodwill Ambassadors. Yusra's and her sister Sara's story is the subject of a major Netflix film documenting her life, written by Jack Thorne. Now with an updated afterword for the paperback edition.

Reviews

Yusra, we could not be prouder of you for your courage and your resilience and the great example that you're setting for children everywhere. -- President Barack Obama
Yusra has an incredible story. -- Emma Watson
War, for all its atrocities, is punctuated by instances of unfathomable human spirit and grace. Olympic swimmer Yusra Mardinis story is a prime example. Butterfly recounts this Syrian refugees extraordinary tale of bravery, survival, and winsome, never-give-up moxie. It is impossible not to be won over by Yusra. -- Khaled Hosseini
Yusra Mardini is a compact powerhouse of inspiration and determination. I am spellbound by her story of bravery and her incredible sister, Sara. What amazing young women, who illustrate to all of us that refugees are people with dreams and ambitions. -- Cate Blanchett
Yusra reminds us of the human cost of the tragedy and the incredible fortitude, perseverance and hope of one young woman who struggles for a future -- Stephen Daldry, Director of Billy Elliot, The Reader and The Hours
An honest account that underlines the human cost of the refugee crisis. -- Stylist Loves
Inspirational and humbling. -- Sunday Post
You should know the name Yusra Mardini. -- Huffington Post

Author Bio

Yusra Mardini is an Olympic swimmer and Syrian refugee who, in 2015, fled her hometown of Damascus when it became too dangerous to live in the war-torn country. In 2016 Mardini swam with the Refugee Olympic Team and was subsequently named a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador. She lives in Berlin and is training for the 2020 Olympics.