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From horrors of war to Rio, refugees ready for Olympics

If bravery was an Olympic sport, the 10 athletes who make up the first-ever refugee team in Rio would be odds-on for a clean sweep of the gold medals.

If bravery was an Olympic sport, the 10 athletes who make up the first-ever refugee team in Rio would be odds-on for a clean sweep of the gold medals.

From Yusra Mardini, a teenage swimmer from Syria who braved a Mediterranean crossing in a leaky dinghy, to Popole Misenga, who spent eight days hiding in a forest as a terrified child to flee bloody fighting, each of the refugee athletes have overcome daunting odds to maintain their Olympic dreams. Mardini, 18, spoke of her delight on Saturday at the prospect of participating in Rio, where she will compete in the 100 meters butterfly and 100m freestyle.

“It’s absolutely an honour for me to be here,” Mardini said.

Mardini is joined in the refugee ranks by another Syrian swimmer, Rami Anis. Anis fled Syria in 2011 to avoid being enlisted into the army, relocating to Belgium from Istanbul in October last year.

“I feel a bit of sadness that I’m not participating as a Syrian. We are representing people who have lost their human rights and are facing injustices.”

The 25-year-old butterfly and freestyle swimmer described the refugee team as a group that “does not despair”. “We have iron wills. We feel sad of course because of the wars in our countries,” Anis said.

Coach Geraldo Bernardes said the question of whether any of the refugee team can win a medal is immaterial.

“People ask if they can win a medal. I say they have already won their medals just by getting to Rio,” he said.

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