Syrian refugee Yusra Mardini who swam for life off to Rio Olympics

A SYRIAN refugee who last year was forced to swim for her life trying to reach Greece will now swim for a gold medal after being selected for the Rio Olympics.

Yusra Mardini of Syria is set to compete at the Rio Olympics.

A SYRIAN refugee who last year was forced to swim for her life trying to reach Greece says she’s overjoyed to be picked to compete at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Yusra Mardini was among 10 athletes named on Friday by the International Olympic Committee for a refugee team at the games. The 18-year-old Mardini said she was at home when the news arrived.

Syrian refugee Yusra Mardini will compete at the Rio Olympics. Picture: Facebook

“I can’t describe how happy I am,” she told The Associated Press by phone from Berlin shortly after the announcement. “I almost cried.” Mardini said she’s trying to stay realistic about her medal chances in Rio, and aiming for a personal best.

“But I hope more for Tokyo (in 2020),” she said.

Mardini and her older sister Sarah arrived in Germany as refugees a year ago after a journey that included swimming alongside their boat partway from Turkey to Greece because it was taking on water.

BEYusra Mardini of Syria during a training session at the Wasserfreunde Spandau 04 training pool Olympiapark Berlin. Picture: AP