Cindy Ngamba Wins Historic First Medal for Refugee Olympic Team

Ngamba, who faced a challenging opponent in Michel, demonstrated exceptional skill and composure, particularly after a closely contested first round.

Cindy Ngamba has made history by securing the first-ever medal for the Refugee Olympic Team at the Paris 2024 Games. Competing in the women's 75kg boxing category, Ngamba clinched at least a bronze medal after a decisive victory over France's Davina Michel with a unanimous 5-0 decision from the judges.

Ngamba, who faced a challenging opponent in Michel, demonstrated exceptional skill and composure, particularly after a closely contested first round. Her tactical approach and calm demeanor ultimately led her to a comfortable win, marking a significant milestone for the Refugee Olympic Team.

"It means the world to me to be the first ever refugee athlete to win a medal," Ngamba said following her triumph. "I hope to change the [color of] the medal in my next fight – in fact, I will change it."

Ngamba's journey to this historic moment has been filled with challenges. After fleeing her home country and arriving in the UK at the age of 11, she initially struggled with language barriers and bullying. She discovered boxing at a local youth club in Bolton, where she initially trained with boys due to the lack of female competitors. Her dedication and perseverance led her to win three national championships, with her Olympic training supported by the Olympic Refuge Foundation (ORF) through its Refugee Athletes Scholarship Programme funded by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

In her initial bout, Ngamba narrowly defeated Canadian fighter Tammara Thibeault with a 3-2 decision. She is now set to face Atheyna Bylon of Panama on August 8 for a chance to compete in the gold-medal match.

Ngamba's achievement extends beyond the boxing ring, sending a powerful message of hope to the estimated 120 million forcibly displaced people worldwide. Her success underscores the potential of refugees when given opportunities to excel and contribute positively to global communities.

Jojo Ferris, Head of the Olympic Refuge Foundation, praised Ngamba's accomplishment, stating, "Cindy reminds us what refugees can and do achieve, how they thrive if given the opportunity and what a positive contribution they make to communities around the world."

Ngamba's mother, aunt, and siblings reside in Paris, adding a personal significance to her Olympic journey. Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, expressed pride in her historic achievement, noting, "You do us all very, very proud!"

As one of 37 athletes representing the Refugee Olympic Team in Paris, Ngamba's success highlights the ongoing impact and importance of the team, which was first introduced at the Rio 2016 Games and continued with a 29-strong team at Tokyo 2020.