European athletes’ success stories have continued at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, with a gold for Piotr Nurowski Prize winner Darja Varfolomeev and a historic medal for former EOC Refugee Team athlete Cindy Ngamba.
Varfolomeev won Germany’s first-ever Olympic gold in rhythmic gymnastics, scoring 142.850 to triumph in the individual all-around event.
German gymnast Ms Darja Varfolomeev and Turkish swimmer Kuzey Tuncelli named joint winners of the 1Xth edition of the Piotr Nurowski Best Young European Athlete Prize (PNP) at a Gala Dinner during European Olympic Committees’ 52nd General Assembly in Istanbul.
The 17-year-old last year was named as the joint-winner of the Piotr Nurowski Prize, the EOC’s prestigious honour which recognises Europe’s best young athlete.
“It’s amazing. It’s difficult to say something right now,” Varfolomeev said after her success.
“I’m really happy and I’m still not really believing it. I’m also really happy that I was able to do four clean routines. That was really important for me. Now I’ve finished my competition with a gold. It’s just unbelievable.
“It’s the result of years of hard work and it really is a dream come true. I can’t really describe my feelings, I’m just overwhelmed with emotions. I’m so happy.”
Boxer Ngamba made more history by becoming the IOC Refugee Olympic Team’s first-ever medallist at an Olympic Games in Paris.
CINDY NGAMBA – © 2024 : International Olympic Committee (IOC) : BURNETT, David – All rights reserved
Ngamba was part of the EOC Refugee Team at the 2023 European Games in Kraków-Małopolska, and was one of the flagbearers for the Refugee Olympic Team at the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony along the River Seine.
She beat Thailand’s Baison Manikon and France’s Davina Michel in the first two rounds of the tournament to reach the semi-final at Stade Roland Garros and guarantee a medal.
It was Panama’s Atheyna Bylon who emerged victorious in the semi-final, but Ngamba had already secured her place in the history books through her bronze.
IOC President Thomas Bach hailed Ngamba’s achievement.
“We were longing for this first medal of the IOC Refugee Olympic Team from the first edition of the Games in Rio, then in Tokyo, and now in Paris we can really set the great example of how refugee athletes are enriching our Olympic community and giving hope and inspiration to the 100 million displaced people all over the world,” President Bach said.
“I would like to congratulate Cindy for making so many people happy and for inspiring so many people.”
Ngamba was born in Cameroon and moved to the United Kingdom at the age of 11, where she continues to live and train.
Ngamba is one of three members of the first EOC Refugee Team competing in Paris.
Taekwondo athlete Dina Pouryounes lost in a repechage in the women’s -49kg category, and Kasra Mehdipournejad will compete tomorrow in the men’s +80kg taekwondo event.
The EOC Refugee Team at Kraków-Małopolska 2023 was the first to take part at a Continental Association’s multi-sport event, underlining the vital pathway provided by the European Games and the EOC’s shared commitment with the IOC and the Olympic Refuge Foundation to helping displaced people to thrive through sport.
