The weightlifter who has never held her Olympic medal

Madias Ngake, born in 1990 in Douala, Cameroon, finished sixth at the London 2012 Olympics but was later awarded a bronze medal after three athletes ahead of her were disqualified for doping. She has never held that medal, which is still in Cameroon, stored in a drawer that is not hers. Ngake decided not to return to her homeland because her sexuality became known during the Games. In Cameroon, homosexuality is illegal and punishable by imprisonment, so she feared for her life and disappeared from the athletes' village after competing. For the following months, she lived on the streets with no home or money until she officially applied for asylum and received temporary accommodation. She was unable to work legally for nearly five years, and later worked as an office cleaner for nine years in Leeds and Nottingham. Only four years ago, after a former coach encouraged her, she returned to weightlifting. In 2024, she won silver at the World Championships, and in 2025, European bronze for Great Britain. Now, 16 years after her first Commonwealth Games in Delhi, she will compete in Glasgow as part of Team England, seeded first in the women's 86kg division. Ngake hopes to win a Commonwealth gold and then qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. She states she loves the UK, respects its laws, and wants to win for this country.