Cindy Ngamba, a 25-year-old boxer representing the Refugee Olympic Team, has made history at the Paris 2024 Olympics by becoming the first refugee athlete to secure an Olympic medal. Ngamba guaranteed herself at least a bronze medal in the women’s 75kg category after defeating French boxer Davina Michel in the quarterfinals with a unanimous decision (5-0).Ngamba’s journey to this historic moment has been marked by significant challenges. Born in Cameroon, she fled to the UK at the age of 11 and was granted refugee status in 2021 due to the risk of imprisonment in her home country for being gay. Despite facing discrimination and even temporary detention for deportation at age 20, Ngamba found solace and success in boxing, becoming a three-time British champion in different weight categories.The victory holds deep personal significance for Ngamba, who expressed her emotions after the fight, saying, ‘This means the world to me. I hope I can change the color of my medal in the next fight’. Her success is seen as a symbol of hope for refugees worldwide, with Ngamba encouraging others: ‘I want to tell the refugees around the world, keep on working hard, keep on pushing yourself and you can accomplish anything’.Ngamba’s achievement is particularly noteworthy for the Refugee Olympic Team, which was established in 2016 to give displaced athletes a chance to compete at the Olympic level. While some athletes on the refugee team have previously won medals for their countries of origin, Ngamba’s victory marks the first medal won under the refugee team banner.Looking ahead, Ngamba will face Panamanian boxer Atheyna Bylon, a former amateur world champion, in the semifinals on Thursday at Roland Garros. As she aims for gold, Ngamba’s story continues to highlight the power of sport in overcoming adversity and the importance of providing opportunities for refugee athletes on the global stage.
Key points
- Cindy Ngamba becomes the first Refugee Olympic Team athlete to win an Olympic medal.
- Ngamba secured at least a bronze in the women’s 75kg boxing category.
- Her victory is seen as a symbol of hope for refugees worldwide.
- Ngamba will face Atheyna Bylon of Panama in the semifinals, aiming for gold.
