Ex-refugee's 'full circle' Commonwealth Games win
Cyrille Tchatchet II is "very proud and honoured" to represent England and take home a silver medal.
## Ex-Refugee Cyrille Tchatchet II Achieves "Full Circle" Commonwealth Games Medal Win
Cyrille Tchatchet II, a weightlifter who fled Cameroon twelve years ago during the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, has finally realized his ambition of winning a medal, celebrating the achievement with his mother, Eveline Njike.
"It's been a full circle for me and I'm very pleased to have finally achieved this dream, which I at some point felt was never going to happen," Tchatchet stated.
After leaving his home country to begin a new life in the UK, the 31-year-old spent two months without shelter in southern England. "When I left, I didn't really know what was going to happen," said Tchatchet, who has not yet felt comfortable discussing the reasons for his departure from Cameroon.
At the Glasgow 2014 Games, he placed fifth in the 85kg category. However, on Thursday, he secured a silver medal in the 110kg division, finally reaching the podium. In what was one of his career's strongest performances, Tchatchet lifted a total of 374kg. He was ultimately surpassed by Fiji's Taniela Tuisuva Rainibogi, whose record-breaking total of 378kg earned him the gold.
Tchatchet described his silver medal win as coming "full circle." Following the 2014 games, Tchatchet did not return home with his team. Instead, he escaped from their accommodation within the Commonwealth village. "I remember talking to [my mum] when I left the Commonwealth village. I told her I didn't have a place to go and she was very concerned," he recounted.
The silver medallist was granted refugee status in 2016, went on to represent the IOC Refugee Olympic Team at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, and subsequently became eligible to compete for England. "I didn't know I was going to be homeless, I didn't know I would go through all the struggles that I went through. I couldn't think for a second that I would be in Glasgow to win a silver medal," he reflected.
During his most challenging periods, Tchatchet attempted to end his life. Now, working as a mental health nurse in Oldbury, he hopes his silver medal will serve as a testament to the possibility of transforming one's life. "This medal means hope, perseverance and to never give up," he declared.
"I'm really looking forward to going back to work and showing this medal to my colleagues who have supported me throughout," he added. "My story wasn't straightforward. Despite the hardships we go through, there's always a possibility. We have to believe in ourselves and keep pushing."
Tchatchet, who now resides in Walsall, affirmed that the difficult times were ultimately worthwhile. "Being an athlete and being a nurse has been very difficult to manage." He further explained that "it does take a lot of sacrifices," as he works from 08:00 to 18:00, followed immediately by "about two-and-a-half hours" of training.
"Coming in Glasgow back in 2014, as a teenager, I was full of dreams and uncertainty as well. So, going back to Glasgow, competing and actually winning a silver medal… I'm very, very proud and honoured to have been given this opportunity to represent England," he expressed.
"It took over a decade for me to win this medal," he said, describing it as "very emotional times."
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