When Dutch-Ghanian athlete, Akwasi Frimpong took his first steps at the Winter Olympics in 2018, he carried the weight of his community on his shoulders. As the first-ever black male skeleton Olympian, Akwasi achieved what many deemed impossible. He gave billions of people who dreamed of a better future an extra glimmer of hope. 

That unique experience led him to co-found Hope of a Billion – a non-profit organization that aims to encourage, engage and empower those in underserved communities, using sport, business and educational opportunities. Through this foundation, he’s been able to share Black Ice, our film and comic book about his journey, with kids from South Africa and Ghana. He’s introduced over 600 young people to his story, challenging them to believe in themselves and never ever give up. 

Hope of a Billion is just getting started. Akwasi and his wife, Erica, hope to reach many more school-aged children and show them all they are capable of. Each day, they work hard to give a voice to those who would usually go unheard. Learn more about what they’re doing here.

“I will never give up” – Akwasi Frimpong

Akwasi’s story is one of perseverance. He started as a young runner in Ghana, who was encouraged by his grandmother to follow his dreams. Soon after, he was racing at the top level in the Netherlands. While a serious injury made him leave the competitive running world, Akwasi never gave up. He found a new way to reach the podium, and through skeleton, he pursued his passion for speed all the way to the 2018 Winter Olympics. 

By the closing ceremony, Akwasi set his eyes on a new goal – to top the Olympic podium. Earlier this year, we joined him on his way to Beijing 2022, in our acclaimed film and comic book Black Ice. And while Covid-19 kept this inspirational athlete from competing, it didn’t stop him from touching people’s hearts. Akwasi’s story lives on.