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Refugee Olympic Team swimmer Yusra Mardini wins butterfly heat

By , Reporter
Refugee Olympic Team swimmer Yusra Mardini wins her opening heat of the women's 100-metre butterfly swimming competition at the Rio Olympics.

A Syrian refugee who risked her life crossing the Aegean Sea has won the opening heat of the women's 100-metre butterfly swimming competition at Rio 2016.

Yusra Mardini, a member of the Refugee Olympic Team, clocked in at 1:09:21, just off her entry time of 1:08:51, to clinch first place in her heat on Saturday.

The Damascus-born 18-year-old's time put her in 41st place overall, with only the top 16 swimmers moving on to the semi-final round.

Less than a year ago, Mardini and her sister Sarah risked their lives by pushing a boat of refugees they were travelling in to safety after it began to sink in the sea.

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Giuseppe Labellarte 
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