Samia was born in Mogadishu, Somalia, during a terrible civil war. At the age of 9, she discovers she has a great talent: she is faster than everyone else. With the help of her best friend Ali, Samia turns this talent into a dream: to represent Somalia at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Samia finished last in the women’s 200m race, but the whole world cheered for her in a truly magical moment.
On her return to Somalia, Samia became the target of reprisals from the country’s Islamic rulers because she ran without a veil, an unforgivable mortal sin. Risking her life, the girl decides to make the journey to Europe. Samia’s story tells of the courage of a young woman who defies a brutal regime and fights for her freedom and her future.