Cindy Ngamba went from watching Samuel Eto’o hit the back of the net for Cameroon, to becoming a world-level athlete in her own right, winning Olympic bronze for the Refugee boxing team.
The gifted fighter excelled in Paris, showcasing her breathtaking skills in the Women’s 75 kg division.
Cindy Ngamba loved watching Samuel Eto’o before becoming a boxer
Lighting up the Olympics came as no surprise to Cindy Ngamba, who’d always dreamed of sporting success.
As a youngster, the natural athlete, put in endless hours on the soccer pitch, desperate to replicate her hero, Samuel Eto’o.
In an exclusive interview with Bloody Knockout, she explained: “Ever since I was little in Cameroon, I was interested in sport, mainly football (soccer). There was a player called Samuel Eto’o and he was the athlete that we all looked up to. We all wanted to be football players. I grew up around many siblings, and they were tough on me, so I was like a tomboy.”
At the age of 11, Ngamba left Africa for Bolton, UK, where, upon seeing a boxing gym, she wandered in, changing her life forever.
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The fighter added: “When I came to the UK, I knew I wanted to go into sport, but I didn’t know which one. Football was all I knew. I knew nothing about boxing; I only learned about that in the UK. I was skillful and had a gift, so it’s opened the door and created opportunities for myself.”
At the age of 18, Ngamba came out as lesbian, meaning she could not return to Cameroon, without risk of imprisonment, as homosexuality is illegal there.
Because of this, she remained in England, where she excelled on the amateur circuit. However, as she doesn’t have a British passport, she could not represent Team GB.
Therefore, when the opportunity to qualify for the Olympics came about, she did so for the Refugee team, using her fighting prowess to secure her spot in the French capital.
With a series of awe-inspiring performances, the 26-year-old walked away with a bronze medal. However, as much as the achievement meant a lot for herself, it was made all the more sweet by the fact that her story is now serving as an inspiration for refugees around the world.
She enthused: “I feel like I’m just another human. It was an honor for me. Before the Olympics, I wanted people to know that refugees can accomplish things. We’re not just there to be quiet, scared, and just participate.
“We are athletes, and we have goals, aims and we’re very hardworking. So, I feel like me being the person representing refugees was an honor for me.”
Cindy Ngamba wins HewardMills Sportswoman of the Year Award at the 2024 Sporting Equals Awards
Winning the bronze medal was nothing short of brilliant for Ngamba, who quickly received enormous plaudits for her efforts.
The Sporting Equals Awards, which reward community figures and athletes for their contributions to bringing greater diversity and equality to sport in the UK, honored the boxer with their HewardMills Sportswoman of the Year Award.
The warrior beamed: “It was an honor to represent all the amazing people who’ve achieved so many fantastic things. The people who get it all together to celebrate everyone’s legacies and success are great.
“To be nominated with all the other legends was amazing. It was a massive accomplishment for me. I feel like everyone deserved the award that night. But I was honored to represent diversity and community.”
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