Akwasi Frimpong, a Ghanaian athlete, has narrated how inspiration he drew from the late Black Panther star, Chadwick Boseman, caused him to make an impression at the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games.
According to a news report by Pulse.com.gh, Akwasi participated in the Men' Skeleton training at the Olympic Sliding Centre on February 7, 2018, in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea.
Akwasi mentioned that his sterling performance was mainly because he desired to depict the role of Black Panther in real life.
Chadwick BosemanIt is with immeasurable grief that we confirm the passing of Chadwick Boseman. Chadwick was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer in 2016, and battled with it these last 4 years as it progressed to stage IV. A true fighter, Chadwick persevered through it all, and brought you many of the films you have come to love so much. From Marshall to Da 5 Bloods, August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and several more, all were filmed during and between countless surgeries and chemotherapy. It was the honor of his career to bring King T’Challa to life in Black Panther. He died in his home, with his wife and family by his side. The family thanks you for your love and prayers, and asks that you continue to respect their privacy during this difficult time. Photo Credit: @samjonespictures
While diving headfirst on a brakeless sled, high on aerodynamics and doing 80 miles per hour on Pyeongchang’s frozen ice track at the 2018 Winter Olympics, Akwasi Frimpong pondered the significance of Chadwick Boseman and his portrayal of the Black Panther.
“When I was competing, a lot of people said we have our own hero. King T’challa on ice. They talked about how important the representation was,” said Frimpong.
Inspired by Boseman’s portrayal of King T’Challa in ‘Black Panther’, Akwasi set out to make his look, and impact as rich, black and cross-cultural as he could.
Akwasi also disclosed that he usually wore a Ghana outfit to his games but on the occasion of the Winter Olympic Games in 2018, he decided to rather use a Black Panther outfit to represent the entire African continent.
"I knew that after the 2018 Olympic Games, I wasn’t just there anymore to represent the 20-million people. I wanted to represent 1.2-billion people and that’s where the story of the Hope of a Billion comes in," he mentioned.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously gathered the report of a Nigerian makeup artist, Jane Richard, who paid tribute to the late Black Panther actor.
Richard transformed her face into that of the late actor using makeup. Social media users who were impressed with the transformation could not help but commend her level of creativity.
