Cindy Ngamba

Cindy Ngamba

Ngamba in 2024
Personal information
National team	Refugee Olympic Team
Born	(1998-09-07) 7 September 1998 (age 27) Douala, Cameroon
Weight	Middleweight
Sport
Sport	Boxing
Club	Bolton
Medal record Women's amateur boxing Representing   Refugee Olympic Team Olympic Games 2024 Paris Middleweight

Cindy Winner Djankeu Ngamba (born 7 September 1998) ^[1] is a Cameroonian boxer based in the United Kingdom, who was the first-ever medalist for the Refugee Olympic Team, having won bronze in women's 75 kg boxing at the 2024 Summer Olympics. She also competed for the EOC Refugee Team at the 2023 European Games, before becoming a professional boxer in January 2025.

As of 2024, Ngamba is the only person from the Refugee Olympic Team to have ever won a medal.

Early life and education

Ngamba was born in Cameroon and moved to the United Kingdom at the age of 11. ^[2] Ngamba's uncle lost her immigration paperwork when he moved back to Cameroon, which, in 2019, caused Ngamba and her borther to be detained while attending an immigration office in Bolton. They were then sent to a detention centre in London, from wich they were released on the following day. ^{[3] [4] [5]}

In 2023, Ngamba graduated from the University of Bolton with a BA (Hons) degree in Crime and Criminal Justice. ^{[4] [6]}

Career

Amatour career

Ngamba trained with GB Boxing, although she could not compete for Great Britain as she does not have a British passport. ^[2] She has won British National Amateur Championships in three different weight categories, making her the first woman to achieve the feat since Natasha Jonas. ^{[4] [2]} In 2023, Ngamba won a Bocskai event in Hungary, ^[5] and competed in the under 75kg event ^[7] for the EOC Refugee Team at the 2023 European Games. ^[2]

Olympics

She competed for the Refugee Olympic Team in the 2024 World Boxing Olympic Qualification Tournament 1 ^[4] and qualified for the Summer Olympics in Paris, alongside her British colleague Chantelle Reid. ^[8] On 2 May 2024, Ngamba was officially named in the Refugee Olympic Team, making her the first boxer to be selected for the team. ^[9] She was also chosen as one of the Refugee Olympic Team flag-bearers for the opening ceremony alongside Syrian Taekwondo athlete Yahya Al-Ghotany. ^{[10] [11]}

Ngamba was drawn to fight 2022 IBA Women's World Boxing Championships gold medalist Tammara Thibeault from Canada in the first round ^{[12] [13]} and won by 3:2 split decision. ^{[14] [15]} She defeated 2022 World Championship bronze medalist Davina Michel of France via unanimous decision in the quarter-finals of the 2024 Paris Olympics to guarantee herself at least a bronze medal and in the process becoming the first person to win an Olympic medal for the Refugee Olympic Team. ^{[16] [17] [18]} She fought Atheyna Bylon from Panama in the semi-finals and lost by 4:1 split decision, therefore taking a bronze medal. ^{[19] [20]}

Professional career

Ngamba turned professional and signed a multi-fight contract with promotors Boxxer in January 2025. ^[21] She was scheduled to make her pro-debut against Kirstie Bavington at the Royal Albert Hall in London on 7 March 2025. ^[22] However, Ngamba withdrew from the bout the day before it was set to take place due to an issue discovered during her pre-fight medical. ^[23]

In February 2026, she was one of the six people who carried the Olympic flag at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics. ^[24]

Personal life

Ngamba is a lesbian and was granted refugee status in the United Kingdom because of her sexuality. ^[25] She has applied for UK citizenship but her application has been rejected. ^[26]

See also

• Zakia Khudadadi, Afghan athlete, first medalist for the Refugee Paralympic Team at 2024 Summer Paralympics

References

1. "Cindy Ngamba". tapology.com. Archived from the original on 11 May 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
2. "Refugee boxer Cindy Ngamba has 'overcome obstacles' to pursue Team GB dreams". The Independent . 21 June 2023. Archived from the original on 8 March 2024. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
3. "Bolton boxing champion faces deportation threat". The Bolton News . 21 September 2019. Archived from the original on 20 March 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
4. "Paris Olympics: Cindy Ngamba on fighting for British citizenship and her dream of competing at the Games". BBC Sport . 8 March 2024. Archived from the original on 8 March 2024. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
5. "Cindy Ngamba's extraordinary fight to box for Britain and keep her Olympic dream alive: 'I had to go through so much'". Sky Sports . 25 February 2023. Archived from the original on 8 March 2024. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
6. "University of Bolton graduate and boxing talent Cindy Ngamba flies flag for Olympic Refugee team". University of Greater Manchester. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
7. "EOC Refugee boxer Cindy Ngamba: "If I was able to overcome those times then I can overcome any situation"". International Olympic Committee. 27 June 2023. Archived from the original on 16 August 2024. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
8. "Paris Olympics: GB-based boxers Patrick Brown, Chantelle Reid and Cindy Ngamba qualify for Games". BBC Sport . 11 March 2024. Archived from the original on 12 March 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
9. "GB-based boxer Ngamba named in Refugee Olympic Team". BBC Sport. 2 May 2024. Archived from the original on 11 May 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
10. "Refugee boxer to be Paris 2024 Olympic flagbearer". BBC Sport. 25 July 2024. Archived from the original on 25 July 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
11. "Boxer and taekwondo athlete to carry Refugee Olympic Team flag". Inside the Games. 25 July 2024. Archived from the original on 25 July 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
12. "GB boxers need 'performance of life' after tough draw". BBC Sport. 25 July 2024. Archived from the original on 25 July 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
13. "Olympics 2024: Lauren Price backs 'absolute machine' Cindy Ngamba and GB's Chantelle Reid for Paris success". Sky Sports. Archived from the original on 31 July 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
14. "Paris 2024 Olympics: Refugee Team star Cindy Ngamba begins bid for gold with statement win - 'Not finished yet'". Eurosport. Archived from the original on 15 September 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
15. "Cindy Ngamba Has a Fighting Chance at the Refugee Olympic Team's First Medal". Sports Illustrated. 31 July 2024. Archived from the original on 31 July 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
16. "Paris 2024: Cindy Ngamba makes history as first refugee to secure Olympic medal, reaches boxing semi-finals". olympics.com. Archived from the original on 8 August 2024. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
17. "Boxer Cindy Ngamba is the refugee team's first athlete to clinch a medal at the Paris Olympics". CBS 42. CBS42. 4 August 2024. Archived from the original on 4 August 2024. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
18. "Ngamba guarantees refugee team first Olympic medal". BBC Sport. 4 August 2024. Archived from the original on 4 August 2024. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
19. "Bolton boxer Cindy Ngamba secures place in Olympics history despite heartbreak in Paris". Manchester Evening News. 8 August 2024. Archived from the original on 8 August 2024. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
20. "Cindy Ngamba wins bronze for Refugee Olympic Team's first ever medal". The Independent. 8 August 2024. Archived from the original on 15 September 2024. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
21. "Olympic history-maker Ngamba to turn professional". BBC Sport. 21 January 2025. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
22. "Cindy Ngamba gets a tough debut against Kirstie Bavington on March 7". Boxing Scene. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
23. "Ngamba out of pro debut because of 'medical issue'". BBC Sport. 6 March 2025. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
24. "Winter Olympics 2026 Milano Cortina Games Opening Ceremony In Pics". Outlook . 7 February 2026. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
25. Factora, James (9 August 2024). "Lesbian Boxer Cindy Ngamba Wins the Refugee Olympic Team Its First Medal". Them. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
26. Harris, Rob (6 March 2026). "Olympic boxer who won refugee team's first-ever medal turns pro after UK citizenship rejection". Sky News. Retrieved 7 February 2026.

External links

• Cindy Ngamba at Olympics.com