Nike Signs First Refugee Athlete, Continues Collaboration with Olympic Refuge Foundation

Nike is pleased to announce the signing of boxer Cindy Ngamba, a member of the IOC Refugee Olympic Team Paris 2024.

Cindy, who joined Nike’s athlete roster in March, left her birth country of Cameroon at 11 years old. She now resides and trains in the United Kingdom, where she’s a three-time national boxing champion and a coach for young athletes.

“Being refugee athletes, we are like any other athlete. The only difference is that we have a different paper or different citizenship,” Cindy says. “The moment I realized boxing can change my life is when I first stepped inside a boxing ring. I felt overwhelmed and at the same time excited; that was the moment when I realized I was made for this.”

Nike is pleased to partner with Cindy and champion her on her sports journey, mirroring the brand’s support for the broader refugee community. Nike continues to collaborate with the Olympic Refuge Foundation to help displaced people find community and a sense of belonging through sport. This includes supplying kit for the IOC Refugee Olympic Team, as shown in the new film, “Watch Where We’re Going”.