Meet Cindy Djankeu Ngamba, First Olympic Medallist From Refugee Team

About 15 years ago, Cindy Djankeu Ngamba and her family fled Cameroon. She could never return because of the Central African country's anti-homosexuality laws. Today, the outstanding boxer has won a bronze at the Paris Games, making history as the first-ever athlete from the Olympic Refugee Team to win a medal. On August 4, she won unanimously over France's Davina Michel in the women's 75kg category quarterfinals. In the semi-finals on August 8, she faced an unfortunate defeat against Atheyna Bylon of Panama and settled for bronze.

Who Is Cindy Djankeu Ngamba?

Cindy Djankeu Ngamba left Cameroon for Britain when she was 13 years old. Bullied for her accent, she joined a gym to gain confidence and eventually became an international boxing sensation. She was even highly praised by former UK Prime Minister Theresa May for her incomparable athleticism. 

However, the boxer's journey has not been easy. Her uncle lost their immigration documents, leading to several roadblocks in applying for colleges and securing UK citizenship. She was also threatened with deportation several times. In 2019, she was also sent to a detention centre for a day.

Djankeu Ngamba fought these challenges spiritedly and secured a degree in Crime and Criminal Justice from the University of Bolton. When she was 18 years old, the athlete revealed her gay identity, adding that she did not want to return to Cameroon, where homosexuality is not legal.

Since Djankeu Ngamba does not have a UK passport, she is not permitted to represent Great Britain on the global stage despite living there since her childhood. Her fight as a refugee has been painstaking, yet her perseverance and determination have led her to achieve significant milestones.

Djankeu Ngamba has won the British National Amateur Championships in three different weight categories, becoming only the second female boxer to achieve the feat after Natasha Jonas.  In 2023, she won a Bocskai event in Hungary and competed at the EOC Refugee Team at the 2023 European Games.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Cindy Ngamba (@cindyngamba)

Djankeu Ngamba qualified for the Tokyo Olympics 2020, becoming the first female boxer selected for the Olympic Refugee Team, when she qualified for the semi-finals. In 2024, the boxer was selected as the Paris Games flagbearer for the Team alongside Syrian Taekwondo athlete Yahya Al-Ghotany.  

Speaking to The Guardian, she said, "I’ve always worked hard... I have no doubt that every refugee who has been selected is the same. We’re all family, and we’re all going to go out there and support each other." The boxer's story is a gripping reminder of the struggle of homosexual individuals and refugees. However, her journey to the Olympic podium is a testament to her resilience and hard work against all odds.