Black Ice: Olympic trailblazer Akwasi Frimpong shares his journey in Park City

Akwasi Frimpong, Olympic Skeleton Slider from Ghana surrounded by his fans. Photo: Courtesy of Hope of a Billion Foundation

PARK CITY, Utah — “Black Ice”, an evening with Skeleton Olympian Akwasi Frimpong is a film showing at the Santy Auditorium at the Park City Library. 

One of it’s sponsors is the Youth Sports Alliance (YSA), which helps manage the Utah Olympic Park’s Bobsled and Skeleton Team.

Click here to purchase film tickets via the Park City Film Series

This is being shown as a part of the Park City Film Series’ Rising Voices Series.

The 90 minute film, which is not rated’s, one and only date and time in Utah is Thurs. Sept. 19, at 7:00 p.m. 

When Dutch-Ghanian athlete, Akwasi Frimpong took his first steps at the Winter Olympics in 2018, he carried the weight of his community on his shoulders – he would become the first- ever black male skeleton Olympian, achieving what many deemed impossible. Learn about his 17-year journey in the short film “Black Ice” – which included failing multiple times, finding the resilience and dedication to persevere, breaking barriers and becoming the hope of a billion people worldwide.

After the film, Akwasi will speak about his remarkable journey and the foundation he and his wife Erica created in 2022, the Hope Of A Billion Foundation (HOAB), with the goal to encourage, engage, and empower a billion lives in underserved communities around the world through sport, business, and educational opportunities. He will be joined by Emily Fisher, Executive Director of the YSA, and young local athletes who are breaking barriers in our own community with the support of YSA..

Tickets are $10 for general admission – free for students.

Proceeds will benefit the Hope of a Billion Foundation.

The showing has grant support from Park City Chamber and Park City Municipal Corp.

The next chance to provide support to local skeleton and thousands of other developing athletes is to purchase opportunity drawing tickets to JANS Winter Welcome a annual event put on at the Stein Erickson Lodge in October. Buy or learn more here about the trip to Belize the winner will enjoy from their $50 ticket.