Blood, sweat, and bronze. The results of the semifinals from the Paris 2024 Olympic boxing tournament are all out, and we’re left with stories that punch well above their weight.
Here’s a preview: We have a refugee, once stateless, now standing tall with a medal around her neck. An Aussie lass breaking a century-old drought in women’s boxing. And in the shadows of the Eiffel Tower, a French heavyweight carrying the hopes of a nation on his broad shoulders.
As we wait to see how the finals will turn out, let’s recap the stories that have emerged from these electrifying semifinals.
Refugee Boxer Makes History with Bronze
Cindy Winner Djankeu Ngamba of the IOC Refugee Olympic Team has carved her name in Olympic history. Competing in the women’s 75kg category, Ngamba secured a bronze medal, the first Olympic medal for the Refugee Team since its formation in 2016.
Ngamba’s path to the podium was hard-fought. Her Olympic story began as one of the two flagbearers for the IOC Refugee Olympic Team at the Opening Ceremony, a moment that symbolized hope for displaced people worldwide.
In the ring, she edged out Canada’s Tammara Amanda Theibeault in a tight 3-2 decision in the round of 16, before landing a solid 5-0 victory against France’s Davina Michel in the quarter-finals. Though her gold medal aspirations were halted in a 4-1 loss to Panama’s Atheyna Bibeichi Bylon, Ngamba’s bronze is a powerful and historic achievement for the IOC Refugee Team.
Australia Celebrates Historic Women’s Boxing Medal
In the same weight class, Australia’s Caitlin Parker made her own slice of history. Parker’s bronze is a watershed moment, marking Australia’s first-ever women’s boxing medal
Parker’s story is one of determination. She missed out on the Rio Olympics, but her persistence paid off with a spot in Tokyo and now a bronze in Paris. Despite her unanimous defeat to China’s Li Qian in the semifinals, Parker’s resolve remained unshaken. “The game plan didn’t go as I wanted, but I’m proud of myself for making history for Australian boxing,” she shared in her post-match interview.
Parker, now a two-time Olympian, is already setting her eyes on future glory. “I’ve got a bronze here and I’m coming back for more,” she declared, adding, “Dreams do come true and I’ll make them come true for the next one.” This bronze might just be the beginning of Australia’s women’s boxing success story.
Semifinal Results in the 57kg Division
The Philippines’ Nesthy Petecio, silver medallist from Tokyo 2020, found herself in an intense match with Poland’s Julia Szeremeta.
After missing out on Rio 2016, Petecio bounced back to claim silver in Tokyo, becoming a national hero in the Philippines. In Paris, she started strong, impressing all five judges in the opening round against Szeremeta. However, the Polish fighter mounted a comeback, resulting in a solid finish.
Szeremeta ultimately clinched a 4-1 split decision. Despite the loss, Petecio’s bronze adds to the Philippines’ growing Olympic boxing legacy, marking their fourth medal of Paris 2024 and their second in boxing after Aira Villegas took bronze the day before.
In the other semifinal, Turkey’s Esra Yildiz Kahraman faced a formidable challenge in top-seeded Lin Yu Ting from Chinese Taipei. Despite a determined effort, Kahraman couldn’t overcome Lin’s relentless attack, falling to a 5-0 decision.
Kahraman’s bronze, however, is a mark of significant progress. It improves on her fifth-place finish at Tokyo 2020 and contributes to Turkey’s medal tally, bringing home their fourth medal of Paris 2024.
Heavyweight Hopes in the Men’s +92kg
In the men’s +92kg category, Germany’s Nelvie Raman Tiafack demonstrated true Olympic spirit despite falling to Uzbekistan’s Bakhodir Jalolov.
“I lost against the best,” Tiafack reflected, his words manifesting the respect and sportsmanship that underpin the Olympic movement. He added, “I came out of the fight without any injuries. That’s always the most important thing. […] I was hunting him for all three rounds, but sadly it wasn’t enough.”
On the other side of the bracket, France’s Djamili-Dini Aboudou Moindze brought joy to the host nation with his bronze medal performance. At 28 years old and making his Olympic debut on home soil, Moindze’s achievement carries special significance.
“I’m delighted to have won the bronze medal, for the people, for France,” Moindze said, his pride palpable in every word. “Like everyone else, I came here for a medal. I didn’t promise anything, just to give my best.”
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