His Winter Games story will forever include the interesting little titbit that before he was 14 years old he had never seen snow. After exiting a plane in London in 2000, Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong marveled at a spectacle he had only seen on television or in the movies. A few years after almost frolicking in snow out of amazement - he remembers tasting it that day - the Ghanaian put on skis for the first time. Ten years later, in one of the more astonishing stories of Olympic achievement, he is on the Ghana Winter Olympic team. Actually, Nkrumah-Acheampong is the Ghana Winter Olympic team, the first from his sub-Saharian African nation of 23 million to ever compete in the Winter Games. "There is such pride in being able to be the first to represent my country," the seemingly ever-smiling Nkrumah Acheampong said. "I hope that my being an Olympian will open doors for others to try. “I can imagine children now dreaming of skiing and winning the gold medal." Nkrumah-Acheampong, who will compete in the men's slalom, does not have a shot at winning a medal in Whistler. Then again, the "Snow Leopard" as he has been dubbed by journalists and competitors, figures he has already won. "Qualifying is my medal,” he said. "That was my goal and thus my gold. That's the true Olympic spirit. Nkrumah-Acheampong takes great pride in Ghana being one of five countries participating in its first Winter Games, along with the Cayman Islands, Colombia, Pakistan and Peru. He has even inspired the Peruvian teenage brother-sister ski duo of Manfred and Ornella Oettl Reyes with his attitude and his attire. Nkrumah-Acheampong didn't have a place to stay in Whistler before the Games began, but has since received donations to help his cause. He skis in a leopard-print ski uniform, and has formed a company (Leopard Sports Limited) that sells Ghana ski gear. Source: AP