Ex-refugee's 'full circle' Commonwealth Games win

Twelve years after escaping Cameroon during the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, weightlifter Cyrille Tchatchet II has finally met his goal of winning a medal.

"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," he said.

After leaving his home to start a new life in the UK, the 31-year-old spent two months sleeping rough in southern England.

"When I left, I didn't really know what was going to happen," said Tchatchet, who fled Cameroon for reasons he still does not feel comfortable talking about.

At Glasgow 2014 he finished fifth in the 85kg, but on Thursday he finally reached the podium, taking home silver in the 110kg.

In one of the best performances of his career, Tchatchet totalled 374kg, but was beaten by Fiji's Taniela Tuisuva Rainibogi, whose record total of 378kg secured gold.

After the 2014 games Tchatchet did not follow his team-mates home. Instead, he escaped from their accommodation in 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 said.

The silver medallist was granted refugee status in 2016, represented the IOC Refugee Olympic Team at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and later 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."

During Tchatchet's darkest times, he attempted to end his life.

Now, working as a mental health nurse in Oldbury, he wants his silver to be a reminder that it is possible to turn a life around.

"This medal means hope, perseverance and to never give up," he said.

"I'm really looking forward to going back to work and showing this medal to my colleagues who have supported me throughout.

"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," he said.

Tchatchet, who now lives in Walsall, said the tough times were worth it.

"Being an athlete and being a nurse has been very difficult to manage."

He added that "it does take a lot of sacrifices", as he works from 08:00 to 18:00 and then trains for "about two-and-a-half hours" immediately after work.

"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."

"It took over a decade for me to win this medal," he said, "very emotional times."

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