Cindy Ngamba hopes first-ever medal for refugee team will inspire others

Refugee Olympic Team boxer Cindy Ngamba has said that she hopes the first-ever medal won on behalf of the team will inspire others to keep on striving for victory in their own lives.

Ngamba claimed a bronze medal after being beaten by Panama’s Atheyna Bylon in the women’s 75kg semi-final.

The UK-based fighter lost by split decision but ultimately earned the Refugee Olympic Team’s first-ever medal at a Games.

“There are many other refugees around the world… they go through many obstacles in life, they go through many hard times and they feel like it is going to be the end of the world at any time,” the 25-year-old said.

“I hope they can see what I achieved and I can be that light at the end of the tunnel to keep on working keep on pushing, keeping their head held high, and striving in life.”

Ngamba was born in Cameroon and moved to the UK at the age of 11, but has faced challenges obtaining citizenship since and was at one point sent to a detention camp with her brother, Kennet, due to a paperwork issue.

She has also previously spoken of how she was bullied as a child and shared a message for anyone being bullied to reporters in Paris.

“If you are going through the worst, that’s what makes you stronger,” she said.

The bronze medallist was also gracious to her own past bullies when asked by reporters what she would say to them now she is an Olympic champion.

“The past is the past. I hope they are doing well in life,” she said.

Ngamba, who is also part of the LGBT community, feared deportation back to Cameroon, where a return would be unsafe due to her sexuality as homosexuality is illegal there.

She now lives and trains in Bolton, where she said she has been broadly supported by the community there.

“The UK has been very, very welcoming ever since the day I came from Cameroon… it kept me safe and protected me and I was able to find a hobby that I’m good at,” she said.

“I was able to go to school, to college, and university. I was able to create a family. I was able to create a life for myself and create hope for myself.”

While she also stated that she is relishing in her victory for now, with plans for the future yet to come, she hopes to one day represent the UK at the Games.

“Hopefully, in the future, I can represent Great Britain. I would love to,” she said.

She also thanked those in the crowd for cheering her on, stating that their support “gave me more energy to keep on pushing”.

Chef de Mission for the Paris 2024 Refugee Olympic Team Masomah Ali Zada said the team are proud of Ngamba.

“Ever since she became a part of this team, she has represented us with grace and charisma,” she said to the International Olympic Committee.

“She will go down in history as the first-ever member of the Refugee Olympic Team to win an Olympic medal – and no one can ever take that away from her.”

She added: “She has demonstrated to the world what refugees can achieve; She has been an inspiration to a population of more than 120 million people and given light to our stories, our journeys. For that, we are forever grateful.”

The Refugee Olympic Team were represented by the largest-ever squad to attend the Games in 2024, with 37 athletes named across 12 sports.