Ghana’s first skeleton Olympian Akwasi Frimpong earns podium finishes
Akwasi Frimpong, Ghana’s first skeleton Olympian had podium finishes twice in the IBSF North American Cup skeleton events held in Park City, Utah, on November 21 and 22.
A document made accessible to TheAfricanDream.net stated that Frimpong finished the races in fifth and sixth places, placing him under 50 seconds for the first time.
Frimpong set new personal records throughout both his push and down times on the Olympic bobsled track in Park City.
He finished on the podium after placing ninth and twelfth earlier this month during the IBSF NAC events in Whistler, Canada, on the world’s fastest sliding course.
Frimpong made headlines in 2018 as Ghana’s second-ever Olympian at the winter games, and the country’s first skeleton athlete. In 2020, he made history in Park City, Utah, U.S., by becoming the first skeleton athlete from Africa to take first place in a championship event recognised by the U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation.
In a post-event interview on Tuesday with the press, Frimpong claimed that having his two daughters watching and encouraging him made the experience even more special.
“I’m making great progress in my sliding with the help of my sponsors and support team. I’m excited to continue to represent Ghana and the Continent of Africa. I’m so hungry for more big results this season,” said Frimpong.
Frimpong missed the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games after contracting COVID-19 before his final three Olympic qualification races in December 2021, but his story continue to inspire and impact generations to come.
In May, a short film “Black Ice,” staring Frimpong won the 2022 D&AD Wooden Pencil Award. According to D&AD, the Wooden Pencils at D&AD are very difficult to win, but Black Ice was lauded as an example of creative excellence for future generations.
Source: TheAfricanDream.net
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Abeeb Lekan Sodiq is a Managing Editor & Writer at theafricandream.net. He is as well a Graphics Designer and also known as Arakunrin Lekan.
