Akwasi Frimpong Is The First Ghanaian And African To Have Won An Elite Skeleton Race Award

Akwasi Frimpong Is The First Ghanaian And African To Have Won An Elite Skeleton Race Award

Akwasi Frimpong born, 11 February 1986, is a Dutch-Ghanaian sprinter, bobsleigher, and skeleton athlete.

Frimpong grew up in Kumasi, and his first eight years were spent in a small one-room home in the village of Kumasi, Ghana.

His grandmother, Minka, raised him and 9 other grandchildren.

Though they all slept on the ground as his grandmother struggled to feed the many dependents.
Frimpong later moved to the Netherlands and at 15 years old, he fell in love with sprinting, when a friend inspired him with a medal he had won in a race.

Frimpong wanted one, so, in 2001, he started running under former Olympian Sammy Monsels.

After just two years of hard work and intense training, Frimpong won the title of Dutch junior champion in the 200 meter sprint.

This was the same achievement that earned him the nickname “GoldenSprint,” and he aspired to compete at the Olympic Games.

To honour Frimpong’s work, Monsels gave him his golden track shoes.

Meanwhile, To qualify for the Olympics, Frimpong decided to compete for his country, Ghana, in skeleton.

Frimpong qualified for the 2018 Olympics in skeleton, earning the continental representation spot for the continent of Africa in skeleton.

On February 29, 2020, Akwasi Frimpong became the first skeleton athlete from Africa to win an elite skeleton race sanctioned by the USA Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation in Park City, Utah.

Akwasi Frimpong strory was later featured in a documentary “Rabbit Theory” produced by Dutch filmmakers Rinske Bosch and Nicole Batteke.

It follows Frimpong for 5 years in the Netherlands, detailing his approach and philosophy for sprinting and attempts at making the Summer Olympics.