Boxer Cindy Ngamba hopes her achievements will serve as an inspiration to other refugees, demonstrating that success is possible despite challenging circumstances and encouraging them to pursue their dreams.
Cindy Ngamba, a boxer who achieved an Olympic medal as the first refugee athlete in history, aims to inspire other refugees facing adversity by encouraging them to “set ambitious goals.”
“In Paris on Friday, Ngamba stated that there will be a light at the end of the tunnel and it’s going to come to an end,” was Ngamba’s assertion.
The Refugee Olympic Team, which was established to raise awareness about the struggles of refugees worldwide, found encouragement in the 25-year-old hailing from Cameroon.
In the quarterfinals of the women’s 75-kilogram division, Ngamba triumphed over French boxer Davina Michel in a highly contested match that took place amidst an enthusiastic gathering of supporters from France at the Paris Games.
Scoring a bronze medal, Ngamba pumped her fist and let out an exuberant scream of victory.
After her own victory, Atheyna Bylon secured Panama’s fourth-ever Olympic medal as she stood opposite to face the challenge from another opponent.
She told the Associated Press that qualifying for the Olympics and winning a medal meant everything to her, emphasizing that there are millions of refugees who share similar experiences.
As a flag bearer, she led the 37 athletes of the largest Refugee Olympic Team ever assembled since its inception before the Rio de Janeiro Summer Games in 2016.
As a means of enabling displaced athletes and migrants to take part in the Olympics without relying on national federations, the International Olympic Committee established this team.
At 11 years old, Ngamba relocated to the United Kingdom. Recently in 2021, she was granted refugee status due to the threat of imprisonment she faced back home in Cameroon for identifying as a member of the LGBTQ+ community.
Boxing has provided her with an escape from chaos and also propelled her onto the international stage, as she described.
Reporters were informed by her that moving to the U.K. proved challenging as she transformed from an outgoing child in Cameroon into a reserved individual, requiring time to get accustomed with English and settle down in a foreign environment.
Despite some refugees on the team having previously won Olympic medals for their respective nations at prior Games, Ngamba was regarded as the most promising candidate to achieve a medal in Paris.
Amidst the unprecedented global migration crisis that has led to 100 million people being uprooted from their residences, Ngamba and other refugee team athletes’ accomplishments have emerged triumphant.
Since its debut, the size of the Refugee Olympic Team has almost quadrupled.
In the opening ceremony, the refugee team was one of the earliest Olympic delegations to travel down the Seine River.
According to her, winning proves that despite the challenges and misfortunes faced by refugees, one can accomplish anything in life. She believes that there are countless possibilities for achievement.
“I aspire for every refugee around the world to witness my journey, having traversed countless avenues throughout my life.”
Additional sources: AP
