Refugee athlete Cindy Ngamba’s life story is no less than inspiring

Through her impressive performance in Paris 2024, boxer Cindy Ngamba – born in Cameroon and living and training in Britain – has become the first athlete to secure an Olympic medal for the international Refugee Olympic Team.

Ngamba grabbed victory against Davina Michel of France in the 75 kg category in the quarter-final on Sunday. The result takes her through to the semis and guarantees her at least a bronze. In Olympic boxing, the 2 losing semi-finalists are given bronze medals.

“I hope that all refugees, not only athletes, can see us”

The athlete, nonetheless, is aiming to make it more than bronze in her semi-final fight on Thursday. “It is an honour to represent refugees at the Olympics … I hope that all refugees, not only athletes, can see us,” INFOMIGRANTS quoted her as saying.

Cindy Ngamba has an inspiring life story. She moved to the UK from Cameroon at the age of 11 and discovered boxing as a teenager at a gym. She later joined the 36-strong refugee team at Paris 2024 after being denied the chance to compete for Great Britain.

Her participation in the Paris Olympics had been doubtful as she doesn’t have UK nationality or a long-term visa. The British team even appealed to immigration authorities to grant her citizenship, but the request got denied.

Five years ago, Ngamba even got arrested and on the verge of deportation, only getting the right to remain in the UK through her uncle’s help. She received refugee status on the grounds that she is gay – a criminal offence in Cameroon.

Refugee Olympic Team giving a message of hope and solidarity

Eventually, Ngamba applied to join the refugee team, through Team GB’s support. Building on the success of Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, the International Olympic Committee decided in 2021 to have an IOC Refugee Olympic Team Paris 2024 and Dakar 2026.The refugee team gives a message of hope and solidarity to the 120 million displaced people globally. The initiative is funded by Olympic Solidarity, helping individual committees identify refugee athletes and support them from their training to participation.