In the night of May 4th and 5th, the liberation Relay run took place. Enthusiastic  athletes helped the liberation from Wageningen to Amsterdam.  Athlete Akwasi Frimpong contributed in this special occasion.

Following this relay is that in 2012 celebrated 67 years of freedom. The liberation Relay, which reflects the importance of world peace and freedom to live, was organized for the 64th time. The liberation marks the transition of remembrance  celebrating this on the night of  May 4th to  May 5th. The fire kindled at noon in Wageningen on the night of May 4th. This historic area is 63 years the start of the relay. In relay form the 67 runners bring the fire to Amsterdam. Frimpong, “there is no easy walk to freedom in life, after a 13-year struggle for a Dutch residence permit, I know how freedom feels. Everyone deserves freedom”

Akwasi Frimpong at the “Dam” in Amsterdam

On Thursday April 26^th 2012, Akwasi Frimpong arrived safely back to Utah from a two weeks trainings camp with the Dutch 4×100 pre- Olympic relay team. After his arrival, Frimpong went to his doctor to do a follow up on his left knee pit tendon. Together with Dr. Melisa McLane, Frimpong decided to do another prp (platelets rich plasma) treatment, which supposed to make the injury heal faster, but at first Frimpong will need to rest about two weeks after such a treatment and also new pains can be developed temporarily.

“This is my second time doing this treatment in two weeks’ time. My insurance doesn’t cover this and the treatment cost a lot, but I am trying everything I can to get back in training”. Since second week March, Frimpong hasn’t been able to train on a 100 percent effort. Frimpong has to report in three weeks for another pre-Olympic relay practices in Europe. “I don’t have much time left, but getting healthy is my priority at this critical time”

Below a video of relays drills with the Dutch Olympic relay team during a camp at the Florida National Training Center.

Akwasi Frimpong ran today as an anchor for the Dutch 4x100m pre-Olympic relay team in Gainesville, Florida. Initially the second team wasn’t going to run because one of the athletes was ill since Wednesday and also Frimpong hasn’t been able to practice much due to his tendon injury. At the competition the second team found a replacement and Akwasi wanted to run even though he hasn’t been hundred percent for a month. “I came to camp, because I was invited by the coach to show what I got and I didn’t want to find an excuse not to run. Even though I am not hundred percent, I am glad I had the opportunity to run, show my work ethic and my passion for the relay team”. The coach was pleased with Frimpong’s hand off in the exchanging zone. He took of hard and he had to slow down to get the baton. But the coach also made him aware that he was not impressed with his basic speed. Frimpong says he knows what he has to work on now; he hasn’t been able to work on his speed since first week march due to his injury.

Frimpong will be in camp for another week, leave to Utah and recover there from his tendon injury. There is not much time left till the Dutch Championships in June, but the most important thing for Frimpong now is to get healthy. “I can’t work on my basic speed, if I am still injured, furthermore this journey is not easy and it can be overwhelming and exhausting sometimes with injuries and personal situations” he says.  According to Frimpong, he has been doing what he can to make his Olympic dream come true and he will keep working hard towards this goal.

Akwasi Frimpong video, The Long Distance Sprinter makes it on the world stage-social media website with world-class athletes like Bryan Clay, the reigning Olympic Decathlon champion, Australian table tennis star William Henzell and Great British Canoe Sprint team. See the page via http://storyful.com/stories/26037

Akwasi Frimpong first practice during national olympic training in Florida after resting his tendon injury for a week on recommendation of his doctors.

Dwight Thomas. Jamaican world-class sprinter training at Florida training center with athletes like Churandy Martina, Justin Gatlin, Kelly Wells and coach, Dennis Mitchel, happens to have the same tendon injury as Akwasi Frimpong. Akwasi had a chat with him after practice and he gave a shout-out about Akwasi’s running form.

Akwasi Frimpong has been in camp since April 12, 2012, but was not allowed to run till today Wednesday April, 18, 2012, due to an injection into  his injured tendon around his left knee pit. He did a 60/80/90/100/120 meters workout at 85 percent.  Frimpong received good feedback from world class coaches. According to the coaches, Frimpong looked strong and his form looked very good. Athletes on the field compared his form to world and Olympic Champion Michael Johnson, who is Frimpong’s idol in track & field. Frimpong hopes to be ready by Saturday April 21, 2012 when the Dutch national Olympic- relay team runs their first relay race in Gates Field, Florida. See below  a short video-update on the track at the National Training Center in Florida.