Olympic refugee team swimmer Yusra Mardini to Hrithik Roshan: Thanks for the support

Eighteen-year-old Syrian swimmer Yusra Mardini, who participated in the just-concluded 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, thanked Hrithik Roshan for his support on social media, on Sunday.

Mardini, who ranked 41st among the 45 competitors in her sport at the Games, fled Syria in August 2015, after her home was destroyed.

The boat she and her sister (along with several other refugees) made their escape on, began to flounder in the Aegean Sea after the engine failed — Mardini and a few others who could swim, pushed the boat for nearly 5 km until it reached shore.

Mardini, who has been living in Germany, had been training for the Olympics there and was chosen as one of the athletes in the Refugee Olympic Team. She competed in the 100-meter freestyle and the 100-meter butterfly events.

Hrithik Roshan had tweeted his support of Mardini and others in the refugee team:

Tonight I cheer for Yusra Mardini, a real life hero who saved lives through her swimming and is part of refugee Olympic athletes team.

— Hrithik Roshan (@iHrithik) August 10, 2016

Its incredibly cool 2 hv included displaced sportsmen in olympics dis time as refugee Olympic tm. Dey dont hv a nation.lets all cheer 4 them

— Hrithik Roshan (@iHrithik) August 10, 2016

Mardini responded with:

@iHrithik thank you so much for the supporting team refugees it means a lot for us that one of the most successful actors is supporting us😊

— Yusra Mardini (@YusraMardini) August 19, 2016