Thomas Essomba, a boxer, left Cameroon with his suitcases and walked out from the London Olympic Village in 2012. He was leaving behind his Cameroon life to start a new one in a country that he had no knowledge of.
Essomba, the captain of his country’s boxing team disappeared along with four other boxers at the Olympic Games. Seven of the 37 Cameroon athletes sent to London by their country, including a swimmer as well as a female soccer player, never returned home from the events. Essomba stated that he struggled sometimes to reconcile his desire for Cameroon with his dream of becoming an American boxer.
The 33-year old told The Associated Press Wednesday that it was a difficult decision and that he wasn’t happy to tell the truth. He said, “The U.K. Is my country now.” It’s a pleasure to be here. Everything will be fine by the grace of God, I believe.”
Stories of young athletes who leave the Olympics capture the imagination of the entire world. Krystsina, a Belarusian sprinter, fled the Tokyo Games this week and sought refuge in Poland. She claimed that Belarusian officials tried to make her return home earlier than she wanted after she had criticized them.
According to the 24-year-old runner, her move wasn’t premeditated and it’s unclear what her next steps will be.
Many athletes sought refuge at international sporting events during the Cold War to escape authoritarian rule in their homelands or seek better living conditions in the West. According to reports, 117 athletes left the Munich Olympics in 1972. Defections from Cuba to the U.S. were also common. Many other athletes from African countries also fled to seek asylum at the London Olympics 2012.
Essomba claimed that he had a “good life” back in Cameroon and didn’t intend to flee before arriving in London. His decision was not entirely clear. Essomba claimed that he had run into problems with Cameroonian sports officials. However, he did not give any details. According to some reports, his teammates claimed that they were treated poorly at the time.
He said that the only thing he was afraid of was giving up boxing. They don’t like challenges. They don’t like challenge. My life was dangerous.
Cameroon is a country of 26 million people, predominantly French-speaking. It has a high level of poverty and extreme inequality between urban and rural areas. Since 1982, President Paul Biya is in power. Critics accuse him of oppression political and persecuting his opponents.
Jackie Fearnley, a campaigner and researcher who helped Cameroonians seek asylum in Britain, stated that “it has been a corrupt and murderous regime for many years.”
Fearnley said that rights abuses are rampant in the country and that some people seek refuge abroad to avoid being considered dissidents. Fearnley has also assisted many LGBT individuals who are routinely arrested and imprisoned in Cameroon.
Essomba stated that it was a “very sad and very bad moment” for him to leave the Olympic Village along with his four teammates. He was dependent on his family, including his mother and siblings back home, and spoke little English.
He said, “Everything was different when I arrived here.” He said, “Listen, my family first.”
The men departed the Village and took a bus to South London where they found a place to stay. A lawyer assisted them in completing the paperwork necessary to apply for asylum. They all had six-month visas that allowed them to stay in Britain for six months.
“I had no idea anything about the U.K. Essomba stated that even when he applied for asylum, he didn’t know what he was required to do. He was granted asylum within one year and became a British citizen shortly thereafter.
Essomba admitted that he’s had regrets when things weren’t going as planned and that he misses his homeland and family very much. He’s adjusted to his new life in England. He made new friends and found a girlfriend. After obtaining his British citizenship, he keeps in touch with his family via social media. He has secretly returned to his homeland.
He was the Commonwealth flyweight champion from 2015 to 2017. He stated that he is fighting to “write his name” by representing the U.K. at international competitions, before he retires and enters coaching.
He said, “Everything in me is in the U.K. right now, so it’s not like I’m going to go back.”
“I still haven’t achieved my goal. My goal is to win a British title. “This is my goal,” he said. “So that’s the reason I continue fighting. “I believe that I can do it.”
