An African in Search of Winter Olympic Glory
Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong a Ghanaian Slalom Skier
Oct 28, 2009
The continent’s temperate climate serves as an advantage to warm weather sporting events but acts as a huge crutch in the world of winter sports. Despite the weather disadvantage, Africa has managed to produce a few daring individuals willing enough to brave the elements and take on the unfamiliar and uncharacteristic sporting events of the Winter Olympics.
Africa will be Represented in the Winter Olympics
As the clock winds down in Vancouver heralding the beginning of the 2010 Winter Olympics, more nations will continue to add their names to the roster of participating countries. Africa will be represented. The 2010 Winter Olympics will be the first Winter Games that will have Ghana on its roster. The world will meet Africa’s next promise to the winter sports; skier Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong.
Ghana’s Nkrumah-Acheampong Starting Skiing as a Adult
Born to a Ghanaian diplomat living in Glasgow in December of 1974, Nkrumah-Acheampong, in the typical fashion of most African Winter Olympians, did not experience snow until he was in his 20s.When he was only 2 years old his father moved from Glasgow to a town on the outskirts of Accra, Ghana. While growing up in Ghana, Nkrumah-Acheampong dreamed of being a world stage athlete and in University he acted on his dreams by competing in track and field, volleyball, basketball, soccer and badminton. It was apparent that he loved sports. However, his knack and passion for skiing was not uncovered until years later while he worked as a receptionist at the Snozone Xscape indoor skiing center in Milton Keynes. There Kwame had a “why not” moment. He put on pair of skis and has been moving forward on them ever since.
Introducing Skiing to Africans
The best part of his story, not only has he carried himself forward but he is also determined to bring the sport of skiing to Ghana. His dream is to open a grass ski slope or an artificial ski slope in Ghana that will encourage and foster young Ghanaians skiers into follow their dreams like he did.
Kwame Qualifies for the Winter Olympics
Qualifying for the 2010 Winter Olympics was no easy task. He started his quest in 2006 by attempting to represent Ghana in the Winter Olympics; he came close but ultimately did not qualify. Nkrumah-Acheampong did not let the disappointment slow him down but instead he built upon it to continue his pursuit. He spent the next three years chasing his dream, leaving his wife and daughter, he travelled to distant ski slopes to train and compete. Not only did he have to overcome the financial hurdle, he also had to overcome the stigma attached to African skiers. In March of 2009, his hard work paid off; Nkrumah-Acheampong qualified to represent Ghana in the Slalom and the Giant Slalom in 2010 Winter Olympics.
African in the Olympics Nicknamed the Snow Leopard
On the ski slopes Kwame is not hard to miss; donned in his black and white leopard-print suit, Nkrumah-Acheampong or the “Snow Leopard” as he fondly called, continues to train in his pursuit of his dream to be pioneer in future of African Skiers. His fellow skiers have mixed feeling about the presence of an African on the slope with some writing him off as a gimmick or a novelty. Nkrumah-Acheampong knows he has a lot to prove, especially to the rest of the world. To many of his fellow Africans, Kwame may not be the fastest skier on the slope but he has the biggest heart. By his stepping up and breaking the barrier by competing in an event that requires familiarity with the snow, in a temperatures that can only be described as hostile to Africans, Kwame has already won.
People understand that it may still be a while before Africa can be considered a medal threat but with Nkrumah-Acheampong taking the first step, the journey has started. If he achieves his dream of introducing the sport to the raw talent of the African youth and gets them interested there is no reason why Africans cannot be competitive at the world winter sports stage.
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