Exclusive: Cindy Ngamba’s Rise from Refugee to Olympic History-Maker

Cindy Ngamba has had to fight for everything in her life — and now she wants to claw her way up the boxing ranks.

The Bolton-based fighter made history last year as she became the first ever Olympic medallist for the Olympic Refugee Team with bronze in the women’s 75kg category in Paris. 

That medal could have been the culmination of her gruelling journey, but it just so transpires to be the beginning of another.

Fighting for More Than Just Titles

The 26-year-old was born in Douala, Cameroon and moved to the UK when she was 11. 

But her uncle lost Ngamba’s immigration paperwork when he travelled back to the country.

Ngamba came out as lesbian when she was 18 and cannot return to her native country, where homosexuality is illegal, due to the risk of imprisonment. 

However, never returning to her homeland is something she has long come to terms with. 

Despite living in the UK for 15 years, she is still to be granted a visa or citizenship.

She was almost deported five years ago, with her brother, after being arrested at what she thought was a regulation signing-on appointment. They spent 24 hours in a detention centre before being released.

A Life-Changing Journey

“It has been a tough journey, but everything happens for a reason,” Ngamba, who makes her professional debut on March 7, told SportsBoom.com. 

“You’ve got to keep moving forward and live the rest of your life."

“I lived my teenage years and my adult life in the UK. I feel like I am a British citizen, and I thank the UK for accepting me."

“I had never heard about boxing when I was back in Cameroon and even when I first came to the UK."

“I have achieved amazing things. I have not hit my peak yet and still have thing to achieve. The sky is the limit for me."

“I was a refugee; I went to the Olympics and won a medal and the first ever person to do that. I showed the world what refugees can achieve.”

Ngamba’s family have all now left Cameroon and are living between the UK and France, with her siblings roaring her on in Paris. 

They were in the arena as the Bolton bruiser secured her life-changing medal last summer.

But Ngamba revealed her mum only tuned in for the medal ceremony and expects her to continue the tradition of not watching her fight despite turning pro.

“My mum has never watched me fight,” revealed Ngamba, who hopes to fight for a world title within a year."

“At the Olympics she only watched the medal ceremony. She has never watched any of my fights because she doesn’t like watching me getting punched."

“My little brother and my oldest siblings travelled over from the UK to France to watch me during the Olympics. It was a really special time for our family."

“I was nice to have loved ones there with me. You could feel it.”

Inspired by Samuel Eto’o, Driven by Boxing

So, how did a kid from Cameroon who dreamed of following in compatriot and former Cameroon international striker Samuel Eto’o’s footsteps become a professional boxer?

Former Barcelona, Inter Milan, Chelsea and Everton hitman Eto’o was always a huge role model growing up for Ngamba.

Now she reflects on a chance encounter where she discovered boxing and never looked back. 

“Back in Cameroon the only thing I knew about was football because we had Samuel Eto’o who was really famous,” she said.

“He was a real role model who everyone looked up to. I looked up to him because he was competing at the elite level."

“My brother signed me up to a youth club in Bolton. They had different activities, not just sport but you can learn about writing a CV and finding a career path."

“But there was a boxing gym downstairs. I was training with the women’s football team, and I got a bit bored, and I wanted something different."

“I saw loads of boys come out of a room and I was curious what it was. I saw loads of boys sparring, punching bags, skipping. From that moment I knew I wanted to try it out."

“I started boxing when I was 15 years old, and the rest is history. It’s been incredible so far, but I have so much more to achieve.”