Boxer Cindy Ngamba made history on Sunday in Villepinte, France, by becoming the first athlete competing as a refugee to secure an Olympic medal. The 25-year-old, originally from Cameroon, has offered a beacon of hope for the Refugee Olympic Team, established to highlight the plight of refugees worldwide.
Ngamba’s triumph at the Paris Games followed an intense bout with French boxer Davina Michel in the women’s 75-kilogram quarterfinals. The match, held in front of an ardent French crowd, culminated in a resounding victory. Bursting with emotion, Ngamba screamed and pumped her fist after her win, ensuring at least a bronze medal as she advanced to the semifinals. She is set to face Atheyna Bylon, who secured Panama’s fourth-ever Olympic medal with her victory shortly after Ngamba’s fight.
“It means the world to me to be the first-ever refugee to win a medal,” Ngamba shared with reporters. “I want to say to all the refugees around the world… keep on working hard, keep on believing in yourself.”
As the flag bearer for the 37 athletes comprising the largest Refugee Olympic Team since its inception in preparation for the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, Ngamba represented the enduring spirit of displaced athletes. The International Olympic Committee created the team to allow these athletes to participate in the Olympics without relying on national federations.
Ngamba moved to the United Kingdom at age 11, receiving refugee status in 2021 due to the risk of imprisonment in Cameroon for being gay. She described boxing as her escape from chaos and her ticket to the international stage. She recounted her early struggles in the U.K., transitioning from a bubbly child in Cameroon to an introverted individual while learning English and adjusting to her new environment. Boxing and the Olympic team eventually became her sanctuary.
“I had my family and my team by my side every day,” she said, expressing gratitude for the refugee team’s warm welcome.
In her first bout, Ngamba stunned former world champion Tammara Thibeault of Canada. She approached her Sunday match with Michel aggressively, swiftly evading the French boxer’s attacks. Despite deafening cheers for Michel from the French fans, Ngamba faced boos when she entered the North Paris Arena ring. She noted that the jeers were just another challenge in her journey.
Ngamba is regarded as the Refugee Olympic Team’s best hope for medaling in Paris. Her success comes amid record levels of global migration, with over 100 million people forcibly displaced from their homes. Since its debut, the Refugee Olympic Team has nearly quadrupled in size, symbolizing inclusion, equality, and achievement for displaced communities worldwide.
U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi described the team as a symbol of inclusivity and congratulated Ngamba on her achievement. Grandi expressed his pride in Ngamba’s accomplishment and encouraged her to aim for gold.
In a notable moment, the refugee team was among the first Olympic delegations to sail along the Seine River during the opening ceremony last week.
Ngamba’s victory occurs as women’s boxing faces intense scrutiny. Fighters Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan and Imane Khelif of Algeria have endured online abuse, with false claims labeling them as transgender or male. Both athletes won their matches this weekend, with the IOC supporting them and cautioning against turning the competition into a discriminatory “witch hunt.”
Looking ahead to her next match, Ngamba is determined to continue sending a message of hope to refugees worldwide. While she has secured at least a bronze medal, her sights are set on gold.
“Hopefully in the next round, I will get the job done—not hopefully. I will get it done,” she declared confidently with a smile.
