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©. ~ Akwasi Frimpong©

At the age of 15, I started with athletics. Sammy Monsels discovered me in July 2001 during an athletics meeting at Augustinus College (junior high school). In November 2001, I began training under Monsels.

My very first race was at the NK (Dutch) indoor championships in January 2002. I came third in my heat, but could not advance to the semi-finals in the 60m. Again, at the NK outdoor championships in July 2002, I did not make the semi-finals, by just 0.01 seconds in the 100m.

I then promised myself that I would become the Dutch champion the following year.

I succeeded! Within a twelve-month period, I became the Dutch champion thanks to Sammy Monsels and my rock-hard efforts. I won gold at the 200m and bronze at the 100m. After my victory at the 200m, the Dutch Athletics Association invited me for the Koninkrijksspelen (Kingdom Games) in Aruba in August 2003.

I could not represent the Netherlands then because I was applying for a residence permit at the time. The KNAU (the Dutch National Athletics Union) were a supporter of the prospect of me receiving a Dutch passport because of my sports achievements and my involvement in the social development of the Dutch society, but the ex-minister of aliens affairs blocked the process. After almost a 13-year battle for a residence permit the current Minister of Justice eventually granted it in August 2007. Now I can finally lead a normal life, go to training camps and participate in international athletics events representing my country. Since June 23, 2008 I have my Dutch nationality besides my Ghana nationality.

In 2007, I again started focusing on athletics in full force. In August 2004, I was injured while competing in the Count Down Games (the Bijlmer Olympic Games) with times of 10.32 sec and 10.60 sec (hand clocked) in the semi-finals and finals, respectively. After finishing the race, I celebrated by doing a jump and unluckily obtained a fracture in my leg. After that stunt, I received rehabilitation with the aid of my physical therapist friends Michael Davidson and Rob Janssen from the Netherlands.

Because I still did not have a residence permit at the time, I was not medically insured, so I could not rehabilitate effectively and as successfully as I would have liked.

Since August 2008, I have been combining track and field with Business Management studies at Utah Valley University in the USA.  For me, this is a dream come true.

My ultimate ambition is to compete (for the Netherlands) at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Nomination as Amsterdam Citizen of the Year 2007

I feel really honored to be able to add my nomination as Amsterdam citizen of the year 2007 to my biography. This is a wonderful acknowledgement for my study results, achievements on the athletics track and for my contribution and commitment to children. It was not easy, as I had to fight a legal battle for my residence permit to be able to live in The Netherlands, but after a 13 year struggle, I finally succeeded.

See Akwasi Frimpong Wikipedia page for more info.