1. "
Snow Leopard" is the nickname of Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong, the first Olympic skier from the nation of Ghana. He became a world media sensation in 2010 when he qualified to ski in the Vancouver Olympic Games.
Kwame, 31, grew up in Accra, Ghana, where the average temperature is about 79 degrees F and it has never snowed during his lifetime. He learned to ski only six years ago at artificial snow
dome in Milton Keynes, England, where he previously worked as a receptionist.
Despite having no sponsors and very little
money, he was able to represent Ghana in the
men's slalom event thanks to the generosity of friends and relatives. His special "
Snow Leopard" pin became the hottest item in Vancouver as athletes from around the world raced to snap them up. (Only 1,500 were made.)
A
father and animal lover, he has a small foundation devoted to the preservation of actual
snow leopards in Africa.
2. A very cool
guy who knows how to ski very fast.
3. The pride of Africa in this year's Winter Olympics.
