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

The awe-inspiring true story of Yusra Mardini, Syrian refugee and Olympic swimmer.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 17 March 2022
Publisher: Pan Macmillan

The inspiring story behind the film "The Swimmers" on Netflix, by Syrian refugee and Olympic swimmer, Yusra Mardini, is an extraordinary tale of bravery, survival, and unwavering determination. It is impossible not to be captivated by Yusra's resilience and unwavering spirit.

"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 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. Yusra and Sara were also part of TIME Magazine's 100 most influential people of 2023.

Now with an updated afterword, this powerful memoir showcases Yusra's incredible journey and the remarkable strength and resilience of the human spirit. It is a testament to the power of hope, determination, and the human spirit in the face of adversity.

Weight: 222g
Dimension: 130 x 197 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781509881697