As a member of the Refugee Olympic Team, Ngamba made history by earning that fourth place at Paris North Arena. However, her aspiration to reach the final was thwarted by a narrow defeat in a closely contested match against Bylon, where the judges' decision was particularly split.

The bout against the Panamanian, who is her country’s seventh seed, was marked from the start by the height difference. Ngamba, being significantly shorter, was forced to make an extra effort due to this disadvantage but continued to press forward while in the ring.

After being at a disadvantage in the first round, Ngamba managed to recover in the second, though in the third phase of the fight, where Bylon received a one-point penalty, she could not maintain the same offensive pace. This made it impossible for her to turn the result in her favour, and she ended up losing after the final verdict.

The judges' decision was met with disappointment by the audience at Roland Garros, where the match took place, as they watched Ngamba's chance at gold slip away. Despite her loss, the refugee boxing team congratulated her on the historic achievement and the bravery she displayed.

Ngamba did not make any statements to the press after leaving the ring, unlike her opponent, who expressed admiration for the refugee. "I have great respect for her. She was a very strong rival, and all the competitors are here with the same goal," said Bylon, who will be competing in the final on Saturday against China’s Qian Li.

A story of improvement

Ngamba's story is full of overcoming challenges, as she had to flee her homeland at the age of 11 for being homosexual, something that is completely prohibited there. At that time, she sought asylum in the United Kingdom and was granted it. Specifically, in the city of Bolton, where she discovered boxing in her adoptive home after having started as a football player.

During that early stage, after being bullied at school for her poor English, her weight, and her body odour, a couple of PE teachers noticed her potential and introduced her to the world of boxing, a sport that would change her life. Indeed, she went on to win the British National Amateur Championship in three different weight categories, making her the first woman to do so since Natasha Jonas.

The harassment this refugee suffered continued when she turned twenty, at which point the British Home Office unsuccessfully tried to deport her to Cameroon. She and her brother were arrested in Manchester and taken to a detention centre in London, having given their address to let authorities know they were still in the country. "Imagine thinking you're just going to sign and go home to continue your day, and then you're handcuffed and put in the back of a van," Ngamba told the BBC.

Despite everything, she was able to continue living in Bolton, resume her boxing training and her studies at the local university, where she graduated in criminology. Now, her journey has led her to the Paris Olympic Games, an achievement that, in her own words, "means everything" to her. Ngamba became the first refugee athlete to qualify for an Olympic boxing competition on her own merit this season.

Initially, Britain was unable to help her obtain the British passport she needed to be eligible for the British team, but Ngamba did win a Refugee Athlete Scholarship which enabled her to try and qualify. She went to last year's European Games as part of the European Olympic Committees Refugee Team and won her opening 75kg bout before going out on a split decision to Ireland's eventual champion Aoife O'Rourke.

She was given another chance in the first World Olympic Qualification Tournament in Busto Arsizio, Italy. There, she stopped Kazakhstan's Valentina Khalzova to claim one of four quota places at the Paris Games. This made her the first refugee boxer to qualify for the Olympics on merit since the Refugee Olympic Team made its debut at Rio 2016.

For IOC President Thomas Bach, a medal for Ngamba would be particularly sweet given the Refugee Olympic Team was founded during his tenure. "We had a little celebration at the Olympic House when we heard about her qualification," said Bach. "Cindy has a lot of fans here." From there, as an official member of the Refugee Olympic Team, she was chosen as one of the flag bearers for the opening ceremony of these Games.

Despite the difficulties, Ngamba remains positive. "I've had to keep smiling and carry on with life. I'm just one of millions of refugees around the world and I hope to give them motivation," expressed the Cameroonian, who is not only fighting for a medal but also for a much fairer cause.