2024 Paris Olympics

Cindy Ngamba makes history for refugees in the boxing ring with first-ever Olympic medal

A member of the Refugee Olympic Team, she is guaranteed a bronze as she goes for gold

Boxer Cindy Ngamba made history Sunday: winning a first-ever medal for the Refugee Olympic Team.

Ngamba triumphed on points in a unanimous decision on Sunday against France's Davina Michel.

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Now the refugee from Cameroon goes for gold in the 75 kilo boxing semi-finals. Even if she loses her next bout, she is guaranteed a bronze.

Ngamba, now living in the United Kingdom because of her sexuality, had already made history by becoming the first-ever refugee boxer to qualify for the Olympic Games.

She was born in Cameroon and moved to the United Kingdom at the age of 11. She was granted refugee status because of her sexuality. Homosexuality is illegal in Cameroon.

“Being a refugee to me means a life-changing opportunity," she told Olympics.com in March. "A lot of refugees out there all around the world have so many potentials, but they don't have that the doors open for them yet. It’s a big family, all around the world.”

The Refugee Olympic Team is a relatively new addition to the Olympic tradition. Here’s how it has evolved.

She first played soccer and started boxing when she was 15. She said she discovered boxing by accident at her local youth club when her heard booming coming from one of the rooms. She said walked inside, saw boys punching each other in the head and decided, "This is so cool."

Her trip to the Olympics almost didn't happen. She was close to being deported because of problems with her paperwork and she and her brother spent time in a U.K. detention center, she said.

One of 37 members of the Refugee Olympic Team in Paris, competing in 12 sports, she is a three-time British amateur champion. But she cannot represent Great Britain because she does not have a British passport.

Cindy Ngamba became the first refugee athlete to win an Olympic medal after she took bronze in the women’s middleweight (75kg) competition.
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