After creating history by guaranteeing the Refugee Olympic Team won their first medal at the Games, boxer Cindy Ngamba declared she was “just human like any other refugee”.
The 25-year-old advanced to the women’s 75kg semi-finals on Sunday by unanimous decision against sixth-seeded Frenchwoman Davina Michel.
Given that both defeated semi-finalists received bronze, the boxer, who was born in Cameroon, is guaranteed a medal in Paris in 2024.
Ngamba came to the UK when she was ten years old, but since she lacks a British passport, she is unable to represent Team GB.
“It means the world to me to be the first ever refugee to win a medal,” she stated. “I’m just a human, just like any other refugee and athlete all around the world.”
The Refugee Olympic Team first competed at Rio in 2016, but prior to this Games the team’s best results were two fifth-placed finishes in Tokyo through Hamoon Derafshipour in karate and Kimia Alizadeh in taekwondo.
Ngamba, who was the team’s flagbearer at the opening ceremony in Paris, next faces Atheyna Bylon of Panama on Thursday.
She added: “Hopefully in the next one, I will also get the job done. No, not hopefully. I will get it done.”
From Cameroon to Britain – who is Ngamba?
Ngamba is unable to return to Cameroon because of her sexuality – with homosexuality in the country punishable with up to five years in prison.
However, after 15 years in England, she is still fighting to be granted a visa and UK citizenship.
Five years ago she was on the verge of being deported after attending what she thought was a routine signing-on process to let authorities know she was still in the country.
Ngamba was arrested, along with her brother Kennet, and sent from Manchester to a detention camp in London, before being released the following day.
Before Paris 2024, GB Boxing unsuccessfully tried to add Ngamba to their ranks for the Olympic programme, even writing a request to the Home Office to grant her citizenship.
She won a scholarship with the IOC refugee team, and is the first female boxer to represent the team at a Games.