Cameroonian boxer Cindy Ngamba secured the first-ever Olympic medal for her country’s Refugee Team on Sunday at the Paris Olympics. Her victory came after a grueling quarter-final match against French boxer Davina Michelle in the women’s 75-kilogram quarterfinals.
Under the Olympic boxing rules, Ngamba’s win guarantees her at least a bronze medal as she advances to the semifinals on Friday. She will compete against Atheyna Bylon, who secured Panama’s fourth Olympic medal with her win shortly after Ngamba’s match.
A three-time English champion across three different weight classes, Ngamba qualified for the Olympics in the 75 kg category. While there were hopes she would represent Britain, efforts by British boxing officials to secure her a passport were unsuccessful.
“I want to say to all the refugees around the world,” Ngamba said, “keep on working hard, keep on believing in yourself. It means the world to me to be the first-ever refugee to win a medal.”
She added that “a lot of people didn’t cheer for me, but I listened to my team, my coaches, and myself. I stayed calm and focused. I’m happy with my accomplishment.”
“Hopefully in the next round, I will get the job done — not hopefully. I will get it done,” she concluded.
Ngamba, who has proudly carried the flag for the Refugee Team—comprised of 37 athletes, the largest since the team’s start at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Games—moved to the United Kingdom at age 11. She was granted asylum in 2021 due to the threat of imprisonment in Cameroon because of her sexual orientation.
The Refugee Team has garnered significant attention at the Paris Olympics, being among the first delegations to sail along France’s Seine River during last week’s opening ceremony.