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An Olympic boxer in the women’s division has made history by earning the first medal ever awarded to a competitor from the Refugee Olympic Team. Cindy Ngamba took home the bronze medal in the women’s 75kg category after triumphing over a Panamanian competitor in a 4-1 decision.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) first created the Refugee Olympic Team for the 2016 Olympics at Rio, for which just 10 athletes were selected. When the Olympics were held in Tokyo, in 2021, the team was expanded to 29 competitors. This year, there were 37 athletes from 11 countries who represented refugees from around the world.
In an interview with Daily News, featured above, Ngamba expressed that she hoped that her win would inspire other refugees who are going through dark times:
“It just shows that through all the things that I’ve gone through, through all the obstacles and tragedies … you can achieve so many things in life if you work hard, believe in yourself, and keep your head held high. Strive to love and take each day as it comes.”
That the Refugee Olympic Team has consistently grown since its inception in 2016 is reflective of the growing number of refugees in the world. According to the IOC, this year’s team represented some 100 million displaced people across the globe.
Ngamba’s win stands as an example and a reminder that those who are refugees have much they can contribute to the world.
Pope Francis, who has been a strong supporter of the Refugee Olympic Team since its inception, also recognized the humanity and potential of refugees. In June, prior to the 2024 games, he commented on the refugee Olympians:
“I think of refugee athletes who tell stories of redemption, hope, inclusion: the Syrian Olympic swimmer who pushed a dinghy in the open sea all the way to the island of Lesbos – where I personally visited twice, in 2016 and 2021, to see the refugee camp – saving 18 people; the Afghan swimmer born without arms who became a Paralympic champion. They are not 'just' sportsmen and women. They are men and women of peace, protagonists of tenacious hope and the ability to rise again.”
