A second-year Senior High School student of the Akosombo International School (AIS), a subsidiary of the Volta River Authority (VRA) has earned a gold medal to lift the flag of Ghana high at the just-ended International Invitational Athletics Competition involving five West African countries in La Côte d’Ivoire.
Kweku Ayim, who was part of the nine-member U-18 Ghana National Athletics Team secured the gold medal from the Discus throwing discipline also shattered the existing U-18 Five-Nation International record of 37.14 meters. He established a new remarkable record of 39.03 meters earning his school and the country immense pride and glory.
The competition featured teams from Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Togo, Burkina Faso, and Ghana.
Visibly elated Headmistress of Akosombo International School, Mrs. Sarah Adei noted that Kweku Ayim’s claim to international fame underscored the level of dedication and commitment the School imbibe in its students.
She indicated that the gold medalist’s perseverance during training and his exceptional performance at the competition demonstrate the values of hard work, teamwork and resilience that students are taught in the school.
“We are incredibly proud of his accomplishments and excited to have supported him. We will continue to work hard to unearth more of such talents that will excel and make Ghana proud. Kweku is indeed an inspiration to us all,” she emphasised.
Recounting his journey to international recognition, Ayim credited his teachers at AIS for recognizing his potential. He said the teachers unearthed his talent when they encouraged him to compete in the inter-house competition.
He then qualification for the ISSAG games hosted at SOS Herman Gmeiner International College in Tema. This is where he started shattering existing record and establishing new ones.
This achievement, he explained, earned him a spot on the Ghana Youth Athletics Team, offering him the rare opportunity to represent Ghana at the U-18 five-nation championships in Côte d’Ivoire.
“I was overwhelmed and proud of myself for this great milestone. With the help of my school coaches (Messers Asare, Boateng and Insaidoo) I was taken through vigorous training in preparation towards the competition,” he noted.
Ayim attributed his confidence and readiness for the tournament to the comprehensive training and unwavering encouragement from his coaches and parents. He added “I gave it my all and it turned out to be the farthest discus throw of the tournament thereby emerging as the winner of the Under 18 five-nation discus throw championship”.