Born in Cameroon and trained in Britain, boxer Cindy Ngamba slugged her way into the history books at Paris 2024 by becoming the first athlete to secure an Olympic medal for the international refugee team.
Cindy Winner Djankeu Ngamba is living up to her middle name.
The 25-year-old was the first ever refugee athlete to qualify for the Olympic boxing tournament.
Now, after carrying the flag for the Refugee Olympic Team at the Paris opening ceremony, she'll be representing it on the podium after winning her quarter-final in the 75kg category against Davina Michel of France.
That victory, which Ngamba secured in three rounds by unanimous decision on Sunday, takes her through to the semis and guarantees her at least a bronze. (In Olympic boxing, two bronze medals are awarded to both losing semi-finalists to spare them a runoff fight for third place.)
"It means the world to me to be the first ever refugee to win a medal," she told reporters after the match.
"I'm just a human, just like any other refugee and athlete all around the world."
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From detention centre to Olympic ring
Ngamba joined the 36-strong refugee team after being denied the chance to compete for Great Britain, where she lives and trains.
She moved there from Cameroon aged 11 and discovered boxing as a teenager at a gym in northern England, where she first sparred with local boys.
"The sport helped me in lots of ways," Ngamba told RFI in July. "It gave me the power to express myself and be proud of myself."
In between completing school and getting a degree in criminology, she went on to win national titles in three weight classes and now trains with the British boxing team.
But without UK nationality or a long-term visa, her position remained precarious. Five years ago, she was even arrested, taken to a detention camp and threatened with deportation, only getting the right to remain after an uncle who lives in France and works for the government managed to intervene.
Eventually, she was granted refugee status on the grounds that she is gay – a criminal offence in Cameroon.
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'Honour to represent refugees'
The British team wanted Ngamba to fight for them at the Paris Olympics and appealed to immigration authorities to grant her citizenship, but the request was denied.
Instead, with Team GB's support, she applied to join the refugee team.
"It's an honour to represent refugees at the Olympics," she said. "I hope that all refugees, not only athletes, can see us and that we show them it could be them one day."
Tipped as one to watch going into the Games, Ngamba has delivered.
"It's the first medal for the Refugee Olympic Team. It's historic," said Gonzalo Barrio, the team's manager, after Sunday's quarter-final.
"We want to show that our athletes are truly high level and deserve to be here, they can win medals. They're not only here to represent nearly 120 million displaced people, but to show that if they get the opportunity, they can be great champions and reach the holy grail – winning an Olympic medal."
Ngamba is aiming to make it more than bronze in her semi-final fight on Thursday against Atheyna Bylon of Panama.
"Hopefully in the next one, I will also get the job done," she said after her latest victory. "No, not hopefully. I will get it done."
