How Akwasi Frimpong Became An Inspiration To Millions

//How Akwasi Frimpong Became An Inspiration To Millions

How Akwasi Frimpong Became An Inspiration To Millions

 

Growing up in his grandmother’s small, single-room home in Kumasi, Akwasi Frimpong didn’t envisage that one day, thousands of people would be screaming his name as he raced down an ice-covered mountain in South Korea with his chin a mere centimeters from the frigid surface.

 

However, that’s exactly what happened in the 2018 Winter Olympics at Pyeongchang, when he made history to become the first-ever Ghanaian skeleton athlete.

 

The 31-year old’s rise to stardom has been truly astonishing. Now, he’s a household name in his native country, and travels the world as an international sportsman and motivational speaker. In nature, the story is akin to those of Diego Maradona, who rose from the slums of Lanus, Argentina to become a football great, or Muhammad Ali, who battled adversity and persecution to make himself the greatest boxer the world has ever seen.

 

So, how did Akwasi Frimpong do it?

One of Ghana’s Favorite Sons: Frimpong’s Story

 

Akwasi Frimpong’s story is one of humble beginnings. He spent most of his early childhood in his grandmother’s tiny home in Kumasi, Ghana. Aged just eight, he followed his mother to the Netherlands in pursuit of a better life. Just a young kid, he was forced to leave his friends behind, and was an outsider, forced to adapt quickly to his new surroundings.

 

However, Akwasi always had an indomitable spirit and a well to compete. In addition to being a bright student, he discovered a talent for sprinting in high school, and in 2001, he became the Dutch Junior 200m champion.

 

However, he wanted more; he wanted to compete internationally. But, since he was an illegal immigrant in the Netherlands, this was out of the question. Akwasi’s fortunes changed when he got enrolled at the Johan Cruyff College, and quickly won the International Student of the Year Award, which Johan Cruyff personally handed to him.

 

Cruyff personally fought for Akwasi Frimpong in the media to tell his story, and in 2008, the Ghanaian was finally granted Dutch citizenship.

Battling Setbacks

 

Akwasi trained with renewed hope and vigor for the 2012 Olympic Games. However, his dream was left in tatters when he suffered a tendon injury just before the event. You would think that this type of disappointment would have destroyed his morale. But no. Akwasi traded the track for ice, and kept on training with his head down.

 

His determination and hard were rewarded at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games, when he made history to become Ghana’s first-ever skeleton athlete.

 

You can learn more about Akwasi Frimpong’s incredible story  here.

By |2021-03-22T10:46:37+00:00March 15th, 2021|Blog|0 Comments

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