Bolton-based Cindy Ngamba secures first-ever Refugee Team Olympic medal

Of the 987 medals that will be won in Paris, surely none will be as significant as this.

Cindy Ngamba, born in Cameroon but raised in Bolton, made history at the North Paris Arena by becoming the first member of the Refugee team to ever secure an Olympic medal.

The boxer beat France’s Davina Michel to reach the 75kg semi-finals, which guarantees at least a bronze, in what is not only one of the stories of these Games, but surely one of the stories of any Games.

Ngamba, who carried the flag at the opening ceremony, celebrated her win by grabbing a board with the refugee team’s name written on it - a team of just 37 athletes that represents more than 120 million people around the world.

She is their captain, their leader and now an Olympic legend.

“It means the world to me,” she said.

“I am a human, just like everyone else on the refugee team and just like everyone else around the world. I want to change the colour and make it a gold.

“To all refugees around the world, keep on believing. You can achieve whatever you set your mind too.

“A lot of people won’t believe in you, a lot of people didn’t believe in me, but at the end of the day, it is just me in the ring. Only I can control the outcome.”

A little over a decade ago, Ngamba had never heard of boxing, but in truth she has been fighting all her life.

Born in Cameroon, she grew up with her mother but moved to Bolton aged 11 to live with her father.

Settling was tough. She was bullied for her limited English, her weight, and her culture, but eventually made Bolton her home despite not having UK citizenship and lived a normal life. She even studied criminology at Bolton University.

Cindy and brother Kennet applied for UK papers several times, but the Home Office did not