Cindy Ngamba guaranteed the Refugee Olympic Team their first medal in history after comfortably winning her boxing quarter-final in Paris on Sunday.
Ngamba, who was born in Cameroon but sought refuge in Britain at age 11, defeated France’s Davina Michel with a unanimous points decision to reach the last four of the women’s 75kg category, securing at least a bronze medal.
“It means the world to me to be the first refugee team member to win a medal,” said Ngamba, 25, who also had the honor of being the flag-bearer for her team at the opening ceremony. “I’m just human, like any other refugee,” she added. Ngamba is a lesbian, a fact that carries significant risk in her native country where homosexuality is illegal.
The Refugee Olympic Team, designed to represent forcibly displaced people worldwide, first competed at the Rio 2016 Games. This year, there are 37 athletes from over a dozen countries competing for the team in Paris.
Ngamba made history by being the first Refugee Athlete to qualify by right for the boxing competition. Her victory over Michel marked her second consecutive win, earning her a spot in the semi-finals where boxing awards bronze medals to losing semi-finalists.
Despite Britain’s efforts to include Ngamba in their boxing team for the Paris Games, their appeal for her to receive a British passport was unsuccessful. Ngamba’s journey has been fraught with challenges. After moving to Britain as a child, she faced bullying at school for her poor English, her weight, and her body odor. Two gym teachers took her under their wing and introduced her to boxing.
Ngamba has also faced adversity outside the ring. At age 20, she was arrested and placed in a detention camp when she went to inform authorities of her living situation. Following her landmark victory, she delivered a powerful message to refugees worldwide.
“I want to say to all the refugees all around the world and refugees that are not athletes… that you have to keep on working hard,” she said. “Keep on believing in yourself, you can achieve whatever you put your mind to.”
In her bout against Michel, Ngamba defied the home crowd, who fervently supported the French boxer, methodically dismantling Michel over three rounds with a decision that was never in doubt. Looking ahead, Ngamba will face Atheyna Bylon of Panama on Thursday for a place in the final.
Reflecting on her quarter-final match, she shared, “A lot of people were not cheering for me, but I listened to my team, to my coaches, to myself. I stayed calm and composed. I’m happy that I got the job done. Hopefully, in the next one, I can get the job done – not hopefully, I will get it done.”
