Sophie Pascoe is a New Zealand para-swimmer. This means she is a competitive swimmer with a physical disability. Very sadly, Sophie was run over by a lawn mower when she was only 2 years old. She had to have the bottom of her left leg amputated. However, despite this terrible accident, she was determined to become a competitive swimmer.
Sophie has won numerous New Zealand and world para-swimming titles, including nine Olympic gold medals. She has also won the Halberg Award for Disabled Sportsperson of the Year three times. Sophie is a great example of a New Zealander who did not let her disability stop her from achieving her dreams. She is truly a ‘National Treasure’. A national treasure is someone or something that is very important to a country.
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Activity 1: National Treasure
For this activity, we would like to learn more about the things that are important to you.
On your blog, please share three things that you treasure and say why they are treasures to you.
Activity 1: National Treasure
For this activity, we would like to learn more about the things that are important to you.
On your blog, please share three things that you treasure and say why they are treasures to you.
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(AGAINST THE ODDS)
Yusra Mardini is a teenage girl who was born in Syria, a war-torn country in the Middle East. She left Syria in 2015 to get away from the constant fighting and became a refugee. During her journey to reach safety in a new country, the engine on the boat she was travelling in broke down and Yusra, her sister and two others jumped out of the boat and swam to get help. Her heroic actions saved twenty people’s lives.
Yusra now lives in Germany. In 2016 she was named as part of the Refugee Olympic Team and she swam for this team in the last summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She is now training for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.
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Activity 2: Swimming to Safety
For this activity, listen to the podcast of Yusra Mardini, or read her story on her personal website.
Activity 2: Swimming to Safety
For this activity, listen to the podcast of Yusra Mardini, or read her story on her personal website.
On your blog, retell the story of this amazing young woman from Syria.
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There once lived a girl who enjoyed swimming. It soon became a hobby then turned into one of her own dreams. Before hand, she had a pretty rough past.
Introducing, the story of Yusra Mardini......
Yusra lived a pretty normal life at first. She grew up in Damascus Syria and even went to school there. But, Yusra didn't swim. While all the other kids swam, she would always stand close to the edge of the pool. Sometimes she would just stare into the deep swaying water. Yusra could hardly see the bottom. The pool water gave her excitement but Yusra's fear would always take over.
One day Yusra looked at the water in the pool. She wanted to do something very shocking and completely unexpected. She leapt immediately into the water. Covering the whole body in the water of the pool. A few seconds before she lifted her head out of the water to breathe, Yusra knew that she was swimming at last! She grew into a very skilled and talented swimmer.
A few years later, a couple of issues arose. Some from the crowd were not happy with the government. The government fired at brave people, and demonstrations that spoke their minds. This was a big issue that didn't affect Yusra at first. But the violence had become so bad at the age of 13, that it turned into a civil war. Large protest groups gathered around Syria fighting together against the government
They were forced to go into hiding from Yusra's family and they lived in fear every day. No idea whether they will be able to see the next day live. At Yusra's age of 14, she only saw 1 way out. They have had to leave Syria, seeking a better life. Yusra's parents said no to the idea of going aboard, as it would be too hard. Especially with the little sister of Yusra who was no older than a child. After a while, Yusra's mother planned to send Yusra and her older sister on a risky trip to Europe, with her 2 cousins. They had no choice, it was unclear whether the rest of the family would make it, but it was the best way forward for now.
Yusra flu to Berlin, Germany, where many other Syrian refugees had left. They could start a better life there and maybe Yusra would start swimming again. She could train well in Germany with many other great swimmers. Yusra left Syria with a cell phone and some clothes, and a little money. The money was going to be used to pay smugglers, as refugees are not allowed by most countries. Yusra abandoned one of her perilous journey into Europe.
They flew first to Lebanon then to Turkey in Istanbul. They were afraid as they went on their journey that they might get caught by the police. Surely the police would have sent them back to Syria, where the war was still going on. They went south from Istanbul to a coast in Turkey, near a Greek Island called Lesbos. The smugglers were waiting at the coast to get them on board a dinghy for the right time, which would take them to the island. It took 2 attempts until eventually at nightfall they forced the dingy out to sea.
They shrank in the landscape as they quickly drifted into the depths of the Mediterranean sea. They left the coast less than 20 minutes later. The dinghy's engine began to clang louder and they began to slow down, before they eventually came to a halt. The dingy started sinking, it was only supposed to carry just 6 passengers, but instead the smugglers fitted 20 people. Everybody panicked and started tossing desperate things overboard to keep it afloat. None of this helped as they kept sinking in the middle of the Mediterranean sea.
Just 4 of the 20 people on the dingy knew how to swim. They tried to save the dinghy in many other ways but nothing succeeded. Yusra, her older sister and the four swimmers jumped into the water and began to pull the dingy. Yusra used one arm to grip the rope at the front, and the other to help her swim. They started moving slowly but surely. They started to swim, the dinghy was heavy, Yusra was sick of numbness, and her eyes burned from the salt water but, she kept swimming. She knew that if she did not do it, the rest of the refugees would die without a doubt.
Yusra and the other swimmers sighted land after 3 and a half hours. There was no way they were going to give up, now with an eye catching sight of the finishing line. Eventually, the refuges and Yusra made it out of the water and onto land. Two swimmers dragged the dinghy onto land. The refuges and Yusra camouflaged themselves in the cornfield where they decided to wait until the time was right to make their move by. Approximately at nightfall.
They were unfortunately caught by police when they began. They were taken by police to a refugee camp not so far from where they had landed. When Yusra and her sister were being moved they began to laugh. The police commended to know what they found so amusing. Yusra answered in her head, "We were almost about to die at sea and now the police think we should be frightened of them." Yusra left the asylum camp with her sister. Of course, they had made it to the island, but their destination had not been met. They continued their trip, traversing nine more nations. After a month, Yusra and her sister entered Berlin Germany. Conditions weren't the easiest so Yusra had to work very hard.
At the refuge camp, Yusra slept on the floor. Although she really wanted to attend a swimming club. She was out of shape when she first tried it out, and could not do her best. Surprisingly, the Coach saw something rather special in Yusra. Yusra's technique was strong but Yusra could be better with some preparation. She planned to awake at 6:00 am so she would be able to train before her classes. Yusra was eager to achieve her goal.
(AGAINST THE ODDS)
You have now made it to the end of Week 1 and have the chance to choose your very own sportsperson or explorer who you think has changed the world. There are no right or wrong choices for this activity, so find someone who interests you and tell us about them on your blog. It could be someone from your family, church, community or someone famous who you admire.
Here are some starting points in case you get stuck:
Jessica Watson
Tanielu Tele’a
Sachin Tendulkar
Ann Bancroft
Kelly Slater
Tamatea
Laura Dekker
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For this activity, please choose one person (a changemaker) and read all about them.
On your blog, provide us with:
The name of the person
A description of the work they do/have done
An explanation of how they/their work has had an impact on the lives of others
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I decided to choose my aunty (my dad's sister.)
My aunty was a netball coach. She enjoyed the sports and was an amazing coach. My aunty was very kind. She cared for a lot of people and helped some too. She cared very much for her family. My aunty was also very popular around school. All of my cousins (her kids) attended Pt England. My aunty fought through cancer and unfortunately lost her battle. I am actually named after my aunty! She helped feed kids at school by preparing sandwiches and other type of foods for them.
I reckon my aunty helped a lot of kids. A lot of the children she coached for netball are still playing netball. I think some are even in the top teams. My aunty fed a lot of kids that didn't have any lunch. She had a great personality and a kind heart for anyone. A strong faith in our lord up above and a strong fighter who never gave up. My aunty taught my siblings, her children and I a lot of things. Wanting us to use them in the future. She influenced a lot of people to be brave and to achieve the things they want to achieve.
I decided to choose my aunty (my dad's sister.)
My aunty was a netball coach. She enjoyed the sports and was an amazing coach. My aunty was very kind. She cared for a lot of people and helped some too. She cared very much for her family. My aunty was also very popular around school. All of my cousins (her kids) attended Pt England. My aunty fought through cancer and unfortunately lost her battle. I am actually named after my aunty! She helped feed kids at school by preparing sandwiches and other type of foods for them.
I reckon my aunty helped a lot of kids. A lot of the children she coached for netball are still playing netball. I think some are even in the top teams. My aunty fed a lot of kids that didn't have any lunch. She had a great personality and a kind heart for anyone. A strong faith in our lord up above and a strong fighter who never gave up. My aunty taught my siblings, her children and I a lot of things. Wanting us to use them in the future. She influenced a lot of people to be brave and to achieve the things they want to achieve.
