Emmanuel's Biography

Profile of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah

Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah is a 27 year old Ghanaian Physically Challenged International Cyclist, born with a badly deformed right leg. Having under gone an operation to fix a prosthetic leg that will allow him to stand on both feet at the Loma Linda Medical Center in the United States, he has competed and won numerous competitions and awards the world over.

He was awarded the 2003 recipient of the renowned Casey Martin Nike Award. The award is presented annually to an individual who has excelled in athletic pursuits while overcoming significant physical, mental, societal or cultural challenges and who proudly serves as an advocate for fellow athletes with disabilities. The award includes a $25,000 Nike grant which Emmanuel has chosen to donate to the Challenged Athletes Foundation in Del Mar, Calif. in the amount of $5,000, with the remaining $20,000 to be established as a donor-advised fund that will help provide assistance to the disabled in Ghana.

The Challenged Athletes Foundation has matched the $25,000 award from NIKE with a $25,000 grant, and Emmanuel will use this money to help other physically disabled Ghanaians. A five-year plan has been instituted to further educate Emmanuel and provide him with the tools to become a stronger leader. The funds will also be used to educate other disabled children from each of Ghana's ten regions. The long-term goal is to use this money, and secure additional funds, to build a sports academy for both able-bodied and challenged athletes. The first batch of 15 students were presented with their scholarships at Kyebi in Eastern Region on Friday 26th March 2004.

Emmanuel took 3rd position at the 2003 San Diego Triathlon in California, USA which features the best crème of physically challenged athletes from around the world in a run-swim-bike relay race. Emmanuel has also been selected as an Ambassador for Right to Play International, a Canadian based NGO, along side the likes of Azuma Nelson and Abedi Pele. These are some of the few laurels achieved by Emmanuel in the past year.

Emmanuel's achievement has brought him closer to the King of Akyem Abuakwa, the Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin, who has since his contact with him in 2001 been behind him. He sees to his welfare and has appointed managers for him to oversea his day to day management of his Educational fund and career as an athlete. Emmanuel has also had audience with the Secretary General of the United Nations, and fellow Ghanaian, Kofi Annan, in New York, USA. The honorable Secretary Annan told Emmanuel that he was very proud of him and encouraged him to continue his efforts in their homeland.

On behalf of the ATHENS 2004 Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games, EOC and the city of Cairo, Emmanuel was selected by an International panel of Judges to represent Ghana as a Torchbearer to be honoured in the Olympic Torch Relay. He took part in this historic event on Friday, 11th June 2004 in the town of Giza in Cairo, Egypt.

Read about the movie: Emmanuel's Gift

Emmanuel and Free Wheelchair Mission Team Up

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