One of Africa’s potential inline skating stars. Starting off on the patchy streets of Newtown, a suburb of Milo on the Roan, Paul Korankye will incur injuries that will leave him bruised with scars to remind him of his beginnings. Little did the young passionate skater know that this was the roadmap and blueprint to his greatness. Born to parents who are into pork business and would do all it takes to make a mark on the world stage when all other avenues fail to give him the necessary platform and attention.
Paul started like a toddler learning to skate, starting with the quad roller skates, which are the most common and basic roller skates used by virtually everyone. The young skater participated in his first race in Togo in 2009 and later competed in an international championship in India in 2013. He won the three stages of the race in the 1,000 meters, 2,000 meters, and hauled in 3 gold medals and a trophy for his cabinet. He made an incredible mark in the world of skating.
Despite setbacks, Paul remained determined to succeed. He aimed for the 42-kilometer inline speed skating race world championship to be staged in Berlin, Germany, that September. Paul had been bracing himself feverishly for the competition. “I’m really training hard here,” he said. “I did 1-hour 10 minutes of bike training, heavy weights from 110 kilograms to 130 kilograms every day, and various training programs. We will make it with God’s help.”
However, Paul faced obstacles along the way. In an interview, he revealed how his Colombian coach hindered his progress by preventing him from obtaining a visa to compete in Argentina. Despite the challenges, Paul remained determined to break the world record with the right support.
Rolling on the streets of Accra with hope, Paul’s journey from local streets to the world stage sets a tone for his quest to make himself and his nation proud. Though faced with setbacks, Paul’s determination remains unwavering as he strives for greatness.
