Ngamba secures Olympic boxing medal and potential first for IOC refugee team

The Britain-based boxer Cindy Ngamba has guaranteed herself an Olympic medal and what could be the first for the IOC’s refugee team after a comprehensive victory against France’s Davina Michel in their 75kg quarter-final.

Ngamba grew up in England, has won national titles, and the GB performance director, Rob McCracken, describes her as “part of the family”. But she has been unable to represent Great Britain at these Games because she has been denied citizenship. Instead, she is representing the International Olympic Committee’s refugee team and was their flagbearer at the opening ceremony.

After an even opening round, Ngamba dominated rounds two and three to secure a unanimous 5-0 points decision over her opponent and sail through to the semi-finals where she is guaranteed at least a bronze medal. She will face Panama’s Atheyna Bylon on Thursday.

“It means the world to me, to be the first ever refugee to win a medal,” Ngamba said. “I’m just a human, just like any other refugee, athlete and refugee all around the world. But I hope I can change the medal on my next fight.

“I was fighting a very tough opponent today. A lot of people were not cheering for me. But I listened to my team, I listened to my coaches and I listened to my own self. I stuck to the tactics and I stayed calm and composed. I’m happy that I got the job done. Hopefully in the next one, I will also get the job done. No, not hopefully. I will get it done.”

In May Ngamba became the first refugee athlete to make the Olympics boxing tournament, and the first in any sport to earn a place in the Games by qualification rather than selection, after winning a tournament in Italy.

The 25-year-old was born in Cameroon but moved to England in 2009. She is unable to return to Cameroon because she is homosexual, which remains a criminal offence in the country. GB Boxing has supported her citizenship application to the Home Office to no avail.