Cindy Ngamba has made history at Paris 2024 as she became the first-ever athlete to win an Olympic medal for the Refugee Olympic Team following a stunning quarter-final victory on Saturday.
25-year old Ngamba trains with GB Boxing and is being supported by its coaches and staff in Paris. She is now guaranteed a bronze medal at least after beating France’s Davina Michel by unanimous points.
The medal deciding bout was in the balance after the opening round with little to separate the two 75kg boxers.
However, Ngamba stepped the tempo up dramatically in both rounds two and three to dominate Michel, the sixth-seed and the 2023 European Games silver medallist, to reach the semi-finals.
Ngamba will take on Panama’s Atheyna Bylon in the women’s middleweight semi-finals on Thursday, August 8.
“It means the world to me to become the first ever refugee athlete to win a medal. I’m human, just like any other refugee around the world. To any refugee out there, athlete or not, keep believing in yourself, you can achieve whatever you put your mind to,” said Ngamba.
“I was fighting a very tough opponent today who had a lot of home support, but I listened to my coaches and stuck to the tactics, stayed calm and composed and I’m so happy I got the job done. I hope I can change the colour of my medal in my next fight.”
The 25-year-old was born in Cameroon but moved to England in 2009. She is unable to return to Cameroon because she is homosexual, which remains a criminal offence in the country.
Ngamba has won national titles, and the GB performance director, Rob McCracken, describes her as “part of the family”.
“I want to thank everyone at GB Boxing, Rob McCracken, all the coaches and support staff, as well as the Refugee Olympic team, my family and god for all being by my side every step of the way and helping me to work hard, get here and now win a medal,” Ngamba said.
Boxing at Paris 2024 has now completed its schedule at the first venue, North Paris Arena. Monday is a rest day, and the tournament will resume on Tuesday, August 6 at the second venue of Stade Roland Garros for the medal-deciding bouts.