| We have all heard the saying, 'Where there is a will, | | | | until he gets the opportunity to get out on to the slopes |
| there is a way' but one athlete competing at the 2010 | | | | and show the world what he can do, he will have to |
| Vancouver winter Olympics will be testing the strength | | | | put up with reporters thrusting microphones in his face |
| of the expression to its limits. Kwame | | | | and asking: "who designs your ski togs: how are you |
| Nkrumah-Acheampong of Ghana will take part in the | | | | coping with the climate; what's your favourite colour?" |
| slalom as his country's only qualifying athlete and the | | | | It could be argued that this sort of irritating attention will |
| only black African skier. | | | | spur him on to achieving his ambition of being taken |
| Already known as the 'Snow Leopard' due to his | | | | seriously as a skier but it could also be argued that the |
| trademark leopard-print ski kit, he is going to be highly | | | | constant pressure of being in the media spotlight might |
| visible in Vancouver - even without the media frenzy | | | | prove to be so distracting that it prevents him from |
| that will no doubt surround him. In interviews, he's made | | | | realising his full potential. |
| it quite clear that he does not want to just ski down | | | | To be able to maintain his focus and concentration on |
| the mountain, he wants to be taken seriously as a | | | | the day will take considerable mental skill. He has |
| competitor. With so much attention already focused on | | | | qualified to compete so he has prepared physically but |
| him and the eyes of the world preparing to watch his | | | | has he prepared mentally? |
| every move, how can he possibly maintain his own | | | | Without a positive mental attitude, self-belief, a well |
| focus and concentration? | | | | practiced self-talk script, and finely tuned visualisation |
| Who remembers Eddie the Eagle? In 1988, he soared | | | | skills, he may not get the opportunity to demonstrate |
| like a brick in the Calgary winter Olympics to become | | | | his abilities. He will be competing in an environment that |
| infamous as a startlingly inept ski jumper. Eddie | | | | is a million miles from his normal training environment. |
| Edwards was able to arrive in Calgary as an unknown, | | | | Even without the press attention, this will be the case |
| but also uninteresting competitor. He was able to | | | | for a great number of Olympic hopefuls. The key to |
| prepare for his event relatively undisturbed. Other than | | | | success lies in preparation - mental and emotional |
| the fact he was British, there was nothing particularly | | | | preparation as well as physical preparation. There |
| unusual about him so he did not attract any media | | | | should be no surprises on the day. |
| interest. It was only after he jumped - so spectacularly | | | | How would you cope? Where would your head be? |
| badly - that the media circus began. | | | | What is worse -is knowing that the world is waiting to |
| Sadly, the Snow Leopard of Ghana will not share the | | | | see if you are going to be another Eddie the Eagle, or |
| luxury of being left in peace to prepare for his event | | | | actually being Eddie the Eagle and knowing that the |
| when he arrives in Vancouver. He's not there for the | | | | world is waiting to be entertained by you as you once |
| experience of taking part, he's there to compete but | | | | again take to the skies - briefly! |