We are sharing the story of Cindy Ngamba, who made history as the first ever Olympic medallist for the Refugee Olympic Team.

 

Cindy was born in Cameroon and moved to the UK at the age of 11. Growing up in England, she struggled with language barriers and was bullied at school because of her accent, her size, and feeling different from those around her. As one account described, she was “shy, overweight and being bullied at school because of her size and the way she spoke.”

 

At 15 she discovered boxing at a youth club and eventually becoming a three-time English national champion, training alongside the national team. Despite building her life in the UK, she was unable to represent Great Britain after repeatedly being denied citizenship. In 2019 she was even detained during an immigration appointment. Returning to Cameroon was also not an option. She could face persecution in a country where homosexuality is criminalised.

 

She was later granted refugee status and given the opportunity to compete for the Refugee Olympic Team.

 

Through boxing she found belonging, community, and a path to the Olympic stage.

 

As Cindy says, “I’m just one of a billion… one of the few that was given the opportunity.” she told The Guardian.

 

This is why we asked Cindy to film this message to reflect on the role boxing has played in life, and to show the public what boxing can mean to people on the margins.

 

Show your support. Be part of a sport where everyone belongs. Boxing is Love.