In short, he used setbacks to make giant strides forward.In addition to being an Olympic athlete, Akwasi is also a father, entrepreneur and public speaker who has inspired thousands of people. In fact, Akwasi says one of the best days of his life was knowing his then-9-month-old daughter was watching him fulfill his Olympic dream. Akwasi’s belief that anything is possible with resilience, determination and hard work led him to his appearance in the 2018 Winter Olympics, a journey he believes will inspire The Hope of a Billion in the years ahead.

Akwasi believes what you need for success is already planted deep down inside of you. He believes success comes from believing in yourself with a positive attitude combined with hard work and persistence. Akwasi wants to be the Hope of a billion African children and show them their dreams of being a doctor, a lawyer, or an Olympian are possible. He wants his example of determination and perseverance as an international athlete to give them a voice to pursue their own dreams.

It is that positive attitude Akwasi will use to fuel him to become Africa’s first Winter Olympics medalist and along the way inspire everyone to overcome their own adversity with courage, and share #HopeOfABillion