Evans Aryee wants to represent Ghana in Olympics

Ghanaian powerlifter and weightlifter, Evans Nana Ekow Aryee, popularly known as ‘Evans the Hulk’, has reiterated his readiness and willingness to represent Ghana at Olympic Games in the powerlifting, weightlifting and strongman disciplines when the opportunity presents itself.

He made the disclosure during a Twitter space interview dubbed, “Sports Corner”, which was aimed at appreciating his journey as a Ghanaian powerlifter in the diaspora and putting Ghana on the pedestal in international weightlifting competitions.

Evans Aryee indicated that he is looking forward to give back to the Ghanaian society, saying “I am ready and willing to represent Ghana at the Olympics level in the powerlifting and strongman disciplines when the opportunity avails itself”.

Readiness

‘Evans the Hulk’ further recounted his sporting journey during his Senior High School (SHS) days in Ghana, and his preparedness to hold the torch of the country aloft the highest to shine even more brighter.

“Growing in Ghana when I was in Adisadel College, around 2014, I used to throw shot-put and discus for my school, so I have always had the Ghanaian dream at heart. When I came to Belgium, I didn’t throw my Ghanaian roots away. I am ever ready to give back to the Ghanaian society that had helped shape my career in numerous ways. I am looking forward to a day where I will have the chance to represent Ghana at the Olympic level,” he said.

Even though ‘strongman and powerlifting’ are not yet inclusive sport disciplines in the Olympic games, he remained hopeful to take the opportunity to raise high the flag of Ghana in the not so distant future.

To this end, Evans Aryee urged Ghanaians to begin to accept the strongman and powerlifting sports to promote it in the country.

“Strongman and powerlifting sports has come to stay… Let’s face it, the powerlifting and strongman sports though new to the Ghanaian terrain has come to stay. We must embrace it just like every other sport, like football, athletics and boxing,” he added.

He said powerlifting has a very great potential in Ghana, adding “we must invest in the sport by putting all hands on deck to lift the image of this sport”.

Achievements

Recently, he became the only African to mount stage and emerge as the first runner-up in the ‘Extreme Strongman’ competition held in Belgium. Extreme Strongman is an annual championship organised in Belgium, with competitors from the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Belgium.

Aside that, ‘Evans the Hulk’, won a silver medal in East Flanders Strongest Competition, which was held in Belgium. East Flanders strongest is an annual regional competition held in Belgium out of the four regions namely, Brussels, West Flanders, East Flanders, and Wallonia.

His win has given him an automatic qualification into next year’s Belgium Strongest Competition. He also holds a Belgian deadlift record of 338kg. He has competed in FIBO, one of the biggest fitness competitions in the world. Evans is tipped for greatness as he continues to challenge the status quo and put Ghana on the pedestal in international weightlifting competitions.