Ngamba, who at 25 years old competes in the middleweight category, won the fight on Wednesday after defeating Thibeault in a gruelling match, where the judges' decision was very close. This triumph places her among the top eight and guarantees her a spot in the quarter-finals, where she will face the French boxer Davina Michel on the upcoming 4 August.

If Ngamba wins that match, she would be assured of one of the medals, the lowest valued one, considering that in Olympic boxing two bronze medals are awarded, both for the third and fourth place finishers. "I visualise any situation that can happen in the ring... and I'm prepared for it as I've seen hardship in life," she said after her bout.

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.