Syrian refugee swimmer hopes biopic helps other displaced people

In this 2021 photo, refugee Olympic team's Yusra competes in a heat for the women's 100m butterfly swimming event during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre. From Syria, Yusra almost drowned at sea while fleeing her war-torn country before competing at two Olympics. Photos: AFP

Syrian refugee swimmer Yusra Mardini, who almost drowned at sea fleeing her war-torn country before competing at two Olympics, hopes a new film about her life will help other displaced people.

Yusra, 24, believes The Swimmers, chronicling the perilous journey across Europe she and her elder sister Sarah undertook in 2015, has "an amazing message" that will give viewers "joy, hope, tears, sadness".