The sisters escaped their war-torn country to find a new life in Europe, along the way they save a number of Syrian refugees in the Aegean Sea and, in the case of Sarah, competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics and 2020 Tokyo Olympics as a member of the Refugee Olympic Team. In Tokyo, she carried the flag of the IOC Refugee Olympic Team at the Opening Ceremonies.
Sarah tells a little about her ordeal and about her life’s mission in a 2020 TEDxTalk at Durham University:
Long Distance Swimmer: Sara Mardini is a sequel to the fictionalized dramatic film, The Swimmers. Written and directed by Charly Wai Feldman, the documentary film was shot over three years following Sarah’s fight for justice and journey of self-discovery. It is scheduled to be released in Germany in March 2023.
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.
