Cindy Ngamba, a 25-year-old out lesbian boxer, just made history as the first athlete from the Refugee Olympic Team to win an Olympic medal. But her story is about so much more than just sports—it’s about overcoming huge challenges, especially as a member of the LGBTQ+ community.
Ngamba’s journey started in Cameroon, where she was born and lived until she was 11. Her family moved to the UK to escape the civil unrest back home. Settling in Bolton, England, wasn’t easy, but sports became her outlet. She first tried her hand at football but soon discovered that boxing was her real passion. Things took a tough turn when, at 16, she found out she didn’t have the right papers and faced the threat of deportation.
Cameroon isn’t a safe place for LGBTQ+ people. In fact, it’s one of 61 countries where same-sex relationships are illegal. In Cameroon, being openly gay can land you in prison for up to five years, and the overall environment is so hostile that LGBTQ+ people face constant danger, not just from the law but also from society. With the real risk of violence and persecution, going back was not a safe option for Ngamba.
Ngamba sought asylum in the UK on the grounds of her sexuality and was granted it in 2021. Even though she’s lived in the UK for more than a decade, her citizenship status is still up in the air, which meant she couldn’t compete for Team Great Britain in the Paris 2024 Olympics. Instead, she represented the Refugee Olympic Team, a group created by the International Olympic Committee in 2015 to give refugees a chance to compete on the world stage.
Ngamba’s win in the middleweight boxing category is a huge deal—not just for her but for refugees and LGBTQ+ folks everywhere. After winning her bronze medal, she shared how much it meant to her to make history as the first refugee to do so. “It means the world to me to be the first-ever refugee to win a medal. I want to say to all the refugees around the world … keep on working hard, keep on believing in yourself,” she said.
While she didn’t take home the gold, losing in the semifinals to Panama’s Atheyna Bylon, Ngamba’s bronze medal is still a massive victory. It’s a win for the Refugee Olympic Team, which has grown from just 10 athletes at the 2016 Rio Games to 37 in Paris 2024, competing in 12 different sports. Ngamba’s story is about more than just sports—it’s a powerful reminder of resilience and the fight for inclusion and acceptance for everyone.