Cindy Ngamba has made history by becoming the first ever refugee athlete guaranteed to receive an Olympic medal – the colour yet to be determined – following a dominant quarter-final boxing match at the Paris Games on Sunday. The 25-year-old was the first boxer to qualify for the Refugee Olympic Team, and now she is slated to win gold, silver or bronze later in the week, after her contest against France’s Davina Michel in the 75-kilo category.

“I want to say to refugees all around the world, [including] refugees who are not athletes around the world, keep on working, keep on believing in yourself, you can achieve whatever you put your mind to,” said Ms. Ngamba, who had fled Cameroon as a child, arriving in the United Kingdom, where she could speak no English and faced bullying. Now she stands to win at least a bronze medal on the Olympic podium, following her scheduled bout on Thursday against Atheyna Bylon from Panama, with the winner advancing to the final showdown for gold or silver.

Ms. Ngamba’s mother, aunt and some of her siblings live in Paris, which has made her Olympic dream even more special, she said. “It means the world to me to be the first ever refugee athlete to win a medal,” Ms. Ngamba said after Sunday’s victory. “I hope I can change the [colour of] the medal on my next fight. In fact, I will change it.” Whatever the outcome and whatever the eventual colour of her medal, her historic achievement has already sent a powerful message of hope to some 120 million forcibly displaced people worldwide.

Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR, offered his congratulations immediately after Sunday’s fight for reaching the boxing semi-finals at Paris 2024 and being assured of a medal – the first ever medal for the Refugee Olympic team. “You do us all very, very proud!” Mr. Grandi said.

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Source: The UN

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