Akwasi Frimpong

Akwasi Frimpong (alias GoldenSprint, born February 11, 1986 in Ghana) is best known as the subject of the Dutch documentary film, “De Theorie van Het Konijn,” or “The Rabbit Theory.” He is also well known for his 13 year fight for Dutch citizenship. He hopes to compete as a sprinter, representing the Netherlands, in the 2012 Summer Olympics.

1 Childhood
2 The GoldenSprint
3 Amsterdammer of the Year
4 Rabbit Theory
5 Oprah Winfrey
6 Timeline
7 References

Childhood

Frimpong spent his first eight years in a small one-room home in the African village of Kumasi, Ghana, surrounded by nine other grandchildren, all under the care of his grandmother, Grandma Minka. Though they all slept on the ground and his grandmother struggled to feed that many mouths, Frimpong remembers those years with fondness. As a child, it was great to have that many playmates.

From Grandma Minka, Frimpong learned that he could achieve much, even with little resources, as long as he kept believing in himself.

At the age of eight, Frimpong joined his mother Esther Amoako, the famous Ghanaian gospel singer, in the Netherlands. At that time, he was not a legal immigrant to the Netherlands, but his family worked on obtaining his Dutch residence permit. The process took 13 more years, and a monumental effort by his many supporters. He finally earned his residency permit in 2007, and gained Dutch nationality in 2008.

The GoldenSprint

Frimpong actually didn’t start running until he was 15 years old, when a friend showed him a medal he’d won in a race. Frimpong wanted one, so, in 2001, he started running under former Olympian Sammy Monsels. By 2003, he was the Dutch National Junior Champion in the 200 meter sprints.

From there, his Olympic aspirations began. But in late 2004, an ankle injury derailed his Olympic dreams. Because he was an undocumented immigrant, no doctor would treat him. Finally, physiotherapist Michael Davidson, who had been following his story, offered his services for one euro. He treated Frimpong, but it took three long years before he was fully recovered.

Still, once the physical recovery was complete, the mental part was not. Frimpong had lost some of his speed, and the toll of being a nomad was wearying.

About that time, he met some study-abroad students from America and heard about running opportunities there. He sent his athletic profile to Utah Valley University Track Coach Scott Houle in Orem, Utah, and was offered a scholarship.

He started at UVU in 2008, and runs the 100 meter, 200 meter and 4X100 meter relay for the university. In May 2010, Frimpong helped the relay team break the school record during the 2010 Great West Conference Championships, with a time of 41.05 seconds. In 2011, he helped UVU 4x400m relay team win a gold medal and broke the meet record during the Great West indoor Championships. The championships, were hosted in the hall of fame Armory indoor track in New York City.

Because of the opportunity to train at UVU, Frimpong renewed his Olympic dream to represent the Netherlands in 2012. But first, Frimpong must run the 200 meter in 20.40 seconds and the 100 meter in 10.20 seconds to qualify. Before his ankle injury, he ran the 100 meter at 10.32 seconds (hand timed), but since the injury, he’s had to work backward from 11 seconds — a huge stretch for a sprinter. He’s now running the 100 meters in 10.66 seconds. He has up until two months before the Olympics to qualify, but he has to run the qualifying times in two different Olympic qualification races, and be ranked as one of the top six 100 meter runners in the Netherlands. In 2010, he was ranked 70. In 2010, he jumped to the number six spot. This year, Frimpong improved to a third spot on the Dutch 100 meters ranking with a time of 10.45 seconds. He has qualified for both the 100 and 200 meters World University Games 2011 also called Universiade in Shenzhen, China. Frimpong, has also earned a spot in the 2011 Dutch World Championships' team that will compete in the 4x100 meters relay in Daegu, South Korea, but first Frimpong must finish top six in the 100 meters during the Dutch national championships on July 30 and 31 in Amsterdam.

Frimpong earned the nickname “GoldenSprint” after he received the Michael Johnson golden spikes (sprint shoes) from Monsels in 2002, and won the gold medal in 2003. According to Frimpong, it's not just about winning a gold medal, but being the best you can be and aiming for the highest in life.

"I battled for 13 years. Giving up was an option, but being patient and persistent were the chosen tools that nurtured the champion from within," Frimpong says of his nickname. "What you need for success is already planted deep down inside of you. The root of your success starts in believing in yourself, then it is nurtured with a positive attitude, hard work and persistence, and that will bring your success to reality.”

Amsterdammer of the Year

In 2007, for the first time in the history of Amsterdam, a Ghanaian-born, Frimpong, was nominated for the top award of the Municipality – “The Amsterdammer of the Year.” This award is given to the resident whose contribution to the development of the municipality made most impact on society at large. Ultimately Frimpong did not win the award, but with his second place spot, he knocked at door to 'Hall of Fame' and made history at the age of 22.

Rabbit Theory

The documentary film, The RabbitTheory, by Dutch filmmakers Rinske Bosch and Nicole Batteke, begins in 2003, and follows Frimpong for five years in the Netherlands. After winning the Dutch National Junior Championship in 2003 at the age of 17, Frimpong was seen as the newest sprinting talent from the Bijlmer, Amsterdam. Frimpong trained each night under Subwaystation Kraaiennest with former Olympian Sammy Monsels, and the film follows his journey of training for the Olympics, while fighting for Dutch residency. It’s more than just a film about an athlete or a film about citizenship. At one point in the film when he is at a race, he describes feeling like a rabbit in a stadium surrounded by lions, needing to be astonishing just to survive. His entire life can be summed up by this analogy. The documentary premiered in Europe in September 2010 and has been submitted to international festivals.

Oprah Winfrey

In December 2010, Frimpong wrote a letter to Oprah Winfrey detailing his childhood illegal alien struggles and his Olympic aspirations. He felt isolated and silenced for 13 long years, as the Dutch immigration constantly rejected his request to become a citizen, and this letter was one of many ways Frimpong says he is breaking free of the stifling silence he had to maintain as an illegal alien.

“I struggled to live illegally in Amsterdam, constantly appealing to the government to retract their ruling on my citizenship. Every day I was under stress, knowing that, at any moment, the government could deport me. Even still, I pushed forward with my dreams of becoming an Olympic athlete, practicing every day at the local public track facility, which gave me access to some of the best coaching, mentoring, and friendships that I could possibly have. However, I was not allowed to compete in the major track and field events, due to my immigration status. My coaches and friends stuck with me for those thirteen years because they saw that I was willing to do whatever it takes to achieve my goals in life. Thanks to my coaches, family, friends, and the grace of God, I was finally able to receive my legal residency status in Amsterdam in the summer of 2008. I then received an athletic scholarship at Utah Valley University in the United States, allowing me further opportunity to pursue my athletic goals, as well as earn a bachelor’s degree. I have set some new track records at the university and am making steady progress on meeting my goals, including trying out for the Olympics. I believe God brought me to the United States for a purpose. Through my experiences, I am finding my voice in this world. I want to inspire others through my story, sharing my struggles and triumphs with as many others as possible. I’ve recently decided to start a foundation to help others achieve their goals. I hope to contribute by bringing forth more leaders in this society who, in turn, will reach out and do the same for others.” He hopes to someday meet Oprah personally.

Frimpong has also let his voice be heard as a columnist for “Het Parool,” the largest newspaper in Amsterdam, in 2008, and again in 2011, as a columnist for in the college newspaper, the “Utah Valley University Review.” He also frequently gives motivation speeches all over the world to businesses, schools and social organizations. During his speeches, he talks about the principles that have brought him success in life and how these principles are transferable in any stage in life.

Timeline

1986 – Born in Ghana

1995 – Moved to the Netherlands as undocumented immigrant

2001 – Started running

2002 – Started training under former Olympian Sammy Monsels

2003 – Named Dutch Junior National Champion in 200-meter sprint

2004 – Started Johan Cruyff College (Upper vocational level education)

2004 – Broke left ankle

2007 – Named Johan Cruyff International Student of the Year, graduated

2007 – Second place nomination for Amsterdammer Citizen of the Year

2007 – Received Dutch National Permit

2008 – Received Dutch passport, moved to Utah, started at UVU

2010 – Broke UVU record in 4X100 meter relay

2010 – Dutch national film premier of “The Rabbit Theory,” a five-year documentary of Frimpong’s journey

2011 - Wins gold and break meet record in the 4X400m relay during Great West 2011 indoor Championships

2011 - Becomes the face of UVU's 2011 Track and Field season

References

Interview and correspondence with Akwasi Frimpong, by Karissa Neely, Aug. 25 – Dec. 23, 2010.

Persondata
Name	Frimpong, Akwasi
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	February 11, 1986
Place of birth	Ghana
Date of death
Place of death

Akwasi Frimpong

Contents

Childhood

The GoldenSprint

Amsterdammer of the Year

Rabbit Theory

Oprah Winfrey

Timeline

References

Frimpong's personal website

UVU (Utah Valley University)

"The Rabbit Theory"

ModernGhana

Achievements

Johan Cruyff College

Akwasi Frimpong Biography Film in 3 min

Dutch references