Loading articles...

Syria-born Olympian takes advocacy role at UN refugee agency

Last Updated Apr 27, 2017 at 9:00 am MDT

Kelly T. Clements, left, United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees, left, laughs as Syrian refugee and Olympic athlete Yusra Mardini, newly appointed UNHCR's Goodwill Ambassador, speaks to the media about her appointment as UNHCR's Goodwill Ambassador, during a press conference, at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Thursday, April 27, 2017. (Martial Trezzini/Keystone via AP)

GENEVA – The U.N. refugee agency on Thursday chose as a goodwill ambassador a Syrian teenage girl who helped save a boat carrying fellow refugees and later became an Olympic swimmer.

Yusra Mardini joined other notables like actress Cate Blanchett and author Khaled Hosseini in the unpaid advocacy role.

UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi said Mardini “represents the hopes, the fears and the incredible potential of the more than 10 million young refugees around the globe.”

Mardini and her sister Sarah jumped overboard and swam for hours alongside their overloaded boat to reach Greece from Turkey in 2015.

She swam on the first Refugee Olympic team in Rio last year and has discussed refugees’ challenges with leaders like Pope Francis and President Barack Obama.