Oris, a Swiss watch brand known for its high-quality mechanical watches and environmental initiatives, has announced a new partnership with Yusra Mardini, an Olympic swimmer and a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).
A Remarkable Journey
Yusra Mardini is not only an accomplished athlete, but also a courageous and inspiring human being. She was born in Syria, where she started swimming at the age of three and competed nationally. However, her life changed dramatically in 2015, when she and her sister Sara fled the Syrian civil war and embarked on a perilous journey to Europe.
Along the way, they boarded a dinghy with 18 other refugees, hoping to reach the Greek island of Lesbos. But the dinghy’s engine failed, and the boat started to sink. Yusra, Sara, and two other swimmers jumped into the water and pushed and pulled the boat for three hours until they reached the shore. They saved the lives of everyone on board.
After arriving in Greece, they continued their journey through several countries until they reached Germany, where they were granted asylum. Yusra settled in Berlin, where she resumed her swimming training and joined a local club.
A Refugee Olympian
In 2016, Yusra achieved her dream of competing at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, as part of the first Refugee Olympic Team. She participated in the 100-meter freestyle and 100-meter butterfly events, representing millions of refugees around the world.
She qualified again for the Tokyo Games in 2020 (postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic), where she improved her personal bests and finished 13th in her heat in the 100-meter butterfly.
She also became a voice for refugees, sharing her story and raising awareness about the challenges and opportunities they face. In 2017, she was appointed a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, joining other celebrities such as Angelina Jolie and Cate Blanchett. She also wrote a book about her life called Butterfly, which was adapted into a Netflix film titled The Swimmers.
A New Role With Oris
Oris has been supporting various causes related to ocean conservation, water quality, and coral restoration for many years. The brand has also created several limited-edition watches to raise funds and awareness for these issues.
Now, Oris has chosen Yusra Mardini as its new ambassador, recognizing her achievements and values. Yusra will wear an Oris Aquis Date watch, a robust and elegant diver’s watch that reflects her passion for swimming and the ocean.
Yusra said: “I’m very happy to be working with Oris. I love their watches, but more importantly I love what they stand for. They have a history of supporting environmental causes and working to make positive change in the world. That’s very important to me.”
She added: “So much still has to change for refugees to increase their chances of beginning new and successful lives. Together with Oris and through the Yusra Mardini Foundation, I’m grateful to have the opportunity to push for that change and to show the world: everyone must be treated equally.”
Oris co-CEO Rolf Studer said: “We’re delighted to welcome Yusra to the Oris family. She’s an extraordinary person who has overcome incredible odds to achieve her dreams. She’s also a powerful advocate for refugees and a role model for many people. We’re proud to support her and her foundation in their mission to make a difference.”
