Cindy Gamba could make Olympic history in Paris later this year if she becomes the first International Olympic Committee refugee team to win a medal.
The 26-year-old, who is one of the 36 members announced on Thursday, sought safe haven in the UK 15 years ago because she is gay, but this is her country of origin. In some Cameroon it is illegal.
Team GB were keen to select her in their squad for the Olympic Games, to be held from July 28 to August 11, but GB Boxing intervened on her behalf to secure a British passport. We're screwed.
There is optimism behind Ngamba breaking new ground with the Refugee Team, which made its debut at the 2016 Rio Olympics, as she has rightly qualified for the boxing tournament.
Ngamba, who secured a spot in Paris by winning a tournament in Milan in April, is the first player in the team's short history to qualify for the Olympics purely on merit.
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Ngamba's medal will be particularly memorable for IOC President Thomas Bach, as the Refugee Team was created during his term.
“When we found out she (Ngamba) had qualified for Milan, we had a little celebration at the Olympic House,” Bach said.
“There are a lot of Cindy fans here.”
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Life in his adopted country hasn't all been smooth sailing for Ngamba. She was arrested when she was 20 years old, just trying to tell her authorities where she lived.
“Imagine thinking you're just going to sign your name, go home and go about your daily routine, and then you're handcuffed and put in the back of a van,” Ngamba told the BBC. .
But thankfully she is now celebrating her selection to the world's biggest sports showpiece.
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“It means the world to me to qualify for the Olympics and be the first refugee boxer in history,” she said.
“I have always worked hard. Even before the preliminaries, I was very disciplined and consistent in my training. I believe that all selected refugees are the same.
“We’re all a family and we’re all going to come out and support each other.”
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The 36 athletes come from 11 different countries and will compete in 12 sports, including swimming and track and field.
“We welcome you with open arms. You are an asset to our Olympic community and to our society,” President Bach said.
“By participating in the Olympics, you will be demonstrating the human potential for resilience and excellence.
“This will send a message of hope to more than 100 million displaced people around the world.”
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