Cindy Ngamba Wins Historic Refugee Olympic Medal

Cindy Ngamba, a 25-year-old lesbian boxer from Cameroon, made history by winning the first-ever medal for the Refugee Olympic Team, securing bronze in the women’s 75kg category at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Ngamba, who moved to the UK at age 11 to escape persecution, faced numerous adversities, including threats of deportation and proving her sexuality to gain refugee status. Despite losing to Panama's Atheyna Bylon in the semi-finals by a close split decision, Ngamba's performance was met with widespread admiration and support from the crowd. Her journey reflects the broader mission of the Refugee Olympic Team, which was established in 2016 to represent forcibly displaced people worldwide. Ngamba's historic achievement underscores her resilience and the significant challenges faced by refugee athletes. She continues to live in the UK, where she trains with the GB boxing team while awaiting British citizenship.