The Swimmer

Yusra and Sarah Mardini live a joyful life with their parents in Syria, where their father, Ezzat, is their swimming coach. Ezzat dreams of seeing them compete in the Olympics one day, and both sisters train regularly under his guidance.

The Syrian revolution against President Assad escalates into a civil war, drastically changing the sisters' lives. Over the next four years, the country deteriorates and their dreams of Olympic swimming become increasingly distant due to the ongoing conflict.

Yusra experiences a harrowing moment when her swimming competition venue is bombed, nearly costing her father his life. This incident propels the sisters to consider leaving Syria for their safety and future.

Despite their father's worries about the dangers of migration, Yusra convinces him to let her and Sarah cross to Germany. They plan to use tourist visas to fly to Turkey before seeking a smuggler to reach Europe.

The sisters arrive in Istanbul, where they connect with a smuggler who promises to take them to Lesbos by sea for a steep price. Reluctantly, they agree to this risky option, especially after seeing the smuggler with a family.

As they embark on their journey, they find themselves packed into an unstable rubber dinghy that begins to sink. When the engine fails, Yusra and Sarah bravely jump into the water to swim alongside the dinghy and keep it afloat.

After a tense night, the sisters and the other refugees manage to reach land in Greece. However, their struggles are just beginning as they encounter discrimination and difficulty securing aid from local organizations.

The group faces yet another setback when a smuggler abandons them en route to Hungary. Despite the challenges, they connect with a different smuggler who offers a new plan involving car travel but results in separation from each other.

Yusra and Sarah finally make it across the border into Germany, albeit separated for a time. After a terrifying encounter that includes a rape attempt in hiding, they find companionship and support in Nizar and Emad.

Once in Berlin, the sisters are taken to a refugee camp for processing, where they live in cramped conditions. They wait anxiously for two months as authorities process their asylum applications.

Yusra and Sarah find a local swimming club where Yusra impresses coach Sven with her skills. Determined to chase her Olympic dream, Yusra starts intense training under Sven's guidance as Sarah supports her.

Yusra works hard to improve her swimming times as the International Olympic Committee announces a refugee team for the Rio Olympics. The rigorous training pays off, as Sven helps her refine her technique.

Yusra Mardini participates in the 2016 Rio Olympics as part of the Refugee Olympic Team. She faces challenges such as prejudice, yet she triumphantly wins her heat in the 100m butterfly event, finishing 41st out of 45 competitors.

Meanwhile, Sarah returns to Lesbos to assist refugees as part of an NGO. Unfortunately, her commitment leads to her arrest, facing heavy charges that could result in a long prison sentence.

Eventually, Yusra’s parents manage to cross the sea and reunite with their daughters in Berlin, marking a bittersweet end to their treacherous journey. The family comes together, finally feeling safe after their harrowing experiences.