Solomon Prempeh

Original message :
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Thank you, Nottingham for a hell of a ride these past 3 years. Yet unfortunately it's my time to go home. London home. As much as I'd like to convince myself Nottingham was a home for me, for my well being it simply isn't. I'II be around again hopefully.However, for now I need to go back.

Thank you, SSPP for everything you've done for me and thanks to all my teammates I shared the ice with.

God bless and I wish everyone well 🙌
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I thought its probably around time to address this on Facebook. For those that follow me on Instagram know I am in London. I am focusing on me and my well being, whilst still developing myself as an athlete and person. Some have also wondered where I am in Nottingham as I’m not in the club sessions or kept my distance from helping and supporting around Notts. Additionally, I’d like to say this for anything that others might hear from others or anything may become miss communicated.

Thank you and god bless and hope everyone’s well 🙌

Guildford Spectrum, Domestic comp 29/04/2023 -

And this closes my season of 2022/23 fully with my very last competition of the season finishing back home in Guildford hosted by my club Aldwych speed club. Thank you and well done to everyone that participated.

I drove home and I reminisced about my following year as a individual and athlete. What a roller coaster! Going from probably physically at the best and strongest point in my career in the beginning of the season, to wanting to open my OTS whilst bulletin down the rollercoaster drop, to finally finding the reason to continue my ride to the end. To respecting many, to respecting none, to learning none of that mattered unless I found love for myself/within myself. Going from thinking the Union Jack was what was missing in my life, to learning to accept it might be something I’ll never have, to realising my past, heritage, history, identity was what I was missing. From praying for my safety, to not praying or worrying about my next breath, to showing gratitude for; every breath I take, every colour I see, every noise, silence, hug, smile, handshake and memory I get to gather with people from all over the world.

It was by all means not an amazing season and I’m not going to act like it was but what was amazing was the ending. To share the ice and racing with amazing athletes.The smiles laughs and joy. Hope you all enjoy your off seasons and May god keep You safe. My next post Will be not Intill possibly a couple weeks! Going to take time to work in my own environment and reflect on myself as I do but at a larger and wider margin and will need time to do that.

500m - 1st
1000m - 2nd
Relay - 1st
Overall- 2nd

God bless 🤙🏽

Photos by Warren Alaini

Easter cup, Ghent, Belgium 8-9 April 2023 -

With the last competition abroad, I was very grateful to have skated and competed in a country that holds a close and deep meaning not just to myself individually but in my skating career. Belgium, a country that started my career as a skater from the UK and where I was thrown into the deep end to meet, skate and bond with athletes from other countries. Where I was supported and grew into the confident, out going, funky individual that I am. This country started and created the personality of the kid that spoke barely any English and was shy and scared of the world of skating and I will forever be grateful! And before anything thank you Maarten Slembrouck for the invite and letting me know the details of this amazing competition and STKG: Shorttrackclub Kristallijn Gent for hosting and young skaters and current stars for the amazing racing.

Day 1: consisted of a 1000m quarter, semi and finals. Managed to get myself through good amount of skating in the B final where I finished second. Defiantly a lot of work needed to be done and a lot to take away from it. Aswell qualifying into the top half at the end of the day in the 500m quarters.

We finished of the day with a Relay which I was very honoured to skate with Robbe Volckaert very strong talented skater and after years of racing against Robbe to be in the same team, communicate, battle and push ourselves to the gold was amazing. We unfortunately suffered a fall in the early stages of the race causing us to play catch up the rest of the race. Yet it was a relay I enjoyed and loved and had most fun I have had in a very long time.

Day 2: with a good start to the day I managed to set myself up to the A 500m final. Which again was the first time I managed to share this amazing moment with Adriaan Dewagtere 5 years since our last time we shared the ice side by side. It was not only fun, enjoyable but a good trip down memory lane for the both of us. I finished third in the 500m and was able to go into the super final with 5 great Belgium skaters and one Dutch skater for final points. That race itself was very funny from my end because of the way I raced, mistakes and way I shocked myself in a 1500m race. Haha I have a lot to learn 🫣

1000m-7th
500m-3rd
1500m SF-6th
Overall-5th

God bless and thank you all who watched, supported, messaged and wished me luck and mostly thank you Belgium 🇧🇪🙌

Photos: Rino Vanhooren and Joris Volckaert🫱🏽‍🫲🏻

Nottingham domestic April 1 2023 -

Once again was happy to skate compete and get in the groove of trying new things over and over. thank you NIRC for hosting this weekends competition the continuous challenge we give to our younger skaters when racing against us, advice and strategies we give them is one of many ways in which they can grow and develop.

500m-2nd
1500m-3rd
Overall-2nd

I was very happy and greatful to share the ice and race against my closest team mate Kyle David MacGregor Ross-Waddell who took home the gold. Kyle to share the ice with you, to be on that line with you is something I’ve always cherished. And I only hope to continue and see you thrive the way you have mate. Nothing but the biggest of love and support I have for you and your journey in this sport 🙌

Wishing the SSPP athletes a good down time. You all deserve it and have worked extremely hard this season. You all have put a lot of efforts in doing and getting to where you are at and hope to see you again to start the season and grow and hopefully join you for a whole season next season in your journeys ❣️

Current generation leading out the future generation of our club Aldwych Speed Club. Amazing comp at Guildford as always. Nothing makes me happier then hearing how different, special and up thriving competitions back home are compared to other domestics.

This was my first competition back home in Guildford since I’ve made my return to the sport and I’d like to thank everyone for all the love, support and welcoming that I received back competing. There’s nothing more that only makes me enjoy this sport more and more is your support.

1st in the 500m
2nd in the 1000m
2nd in the super final mile race
2nd overall

What a year. By all means life never seems to disappoint with what it has to offer. To all I know I said I would keep you all in touch with how I do more often but I actually ended up stepping away from the sport last year October time. I went through mental struggles and wasn’t able to train, function as an individual and took time to myself.

However, with something I honestly never thought I’d say, I’m back with two weeks of training so far and 2 competitions under my belt. Mentally I’m still working and still growing and still going through my barriers yet I am in a much better place and supported by my own circle outside the sport that will and I will forever be greatful for. Mentally I’m climbing up the steps, yet physically I’ll need abit of time. I have and will be competing in all domestic remaining competitions and attending some other international competitions intill the end of the season.

this is the most recent photo of me competing and in action 🤙🏽

In addition, I have taken time away from my main social media platforms and I will do the same for this in the upcoming months. Yet when that happens I’ll let you all know.

God bless and keep safe and well 🙌

Taking time to give back and seeing the sport from the other side 📕

Hello to everyone, I hope you’re well. I know I’ve been quiet, yet that’s because I’ve been extremely busy.

After the season had ended after the British championships. I decided to take time off. And to travel around the world for self enjoyment and resetting purposes. I managed to meet friends and meet new people, learn grow and almost forget about skating. Which I needed and enjoyed and loved.

But I’d like to represent to you my pre season. Where I was able to train individually, spent a month home with my home club Aldwych speed skating club. Which I loved. Thank you Aldwych you guys are a blessing, always welcoming me and making training enjoyable for me.

I traveled with the SSPP (Speed skating performance program) to an off ice camp in Spain. Where it was a cycling camp and we did a lot and I mean A LOT of cycling haha. And as a team we were able to reach our goal of cycling a total combination of 10,000km. Well done team!

And then I also then went to probably my favorite camp and place to which I look forward to going every single year and have been going since 2016 (except last year unfortunately) to another camp I was able to enjoy with my Aldwych team members in Germany, obersdorf. Where I was given the opportunity to train with athletes from other countries, meet new athletes and parents and also compete in my first competition of the season. Which was again done with a lot of joy, support happiness and memories. To which again I thank my team members for the coaches and other athletes! And I can’t wait for the season to start.

In addition, to good news, I managed to as a non runner promised myself to beat my mountain run time to which I did by a solid 7 mins! In addition, the competition went as follows ;

I managed to get myself into the A final at the 1000m to which I skated decently and got myself a 4th spot. As a athlete I was able to take alot from that race learn and also have alot of enjoyment skating it with the people I was. Unfortunately however on the next day as I hoped to get myself again into the A final and race for a top 3 spot in the 500m I had a fall in the semi final taking me to the B final finishing second in my race and overall 6th in that distance. A competition with alot of lessons about myself and also my ability and me as a skater to which I am very happy to take onto the season.

Again I am sorry for the long pause and disappearance yet now as the season starts I will update you guys more and more and as always I am greatful for all the support and love And application everyone has given me to keep my head up through the hard times. I hope everyone else is also okay and that everyone around them are blessed ❤️

Don’t know how to feel or what to say as a lot of emotion had build up to the lead up to the British and at the British championships and even after. But I’d like to thank everyone first off that came to support me. To watch and also wished me luck during and before the competition. Y’all are a blessing. The past couple competitions I haven’t evaluated how I had done due to just my mental comfort. not just about myself but personal mental battles about myself within the sport hasn’t been the best. I apologise. However to sum up the weekend :

1500m - 2nd 🥈
500m - 3rd 🥉
1000m - 1st 🥇
3000m super final - 2nd 🥈
Overall - 2nd runner up British position. 🥈

Congratulations to my brother for becoming this years British Champion 🙌 a true representation of what a British speed skater is and a true role model of British full time athletes although living in a complete different country and made an appearance.

May god bless you all and I’m happy pronounce the ending of my new beginnings closing the 2021/22 season 🇬🇧

Even though With the inconvenience of time and organisation of the British, I will be skating and competing in my first senior British championships in 2022. It won’t be what I expected nor would it be what I wanted to it be yet again I will be there, wearing the Aldwych colours, kit and at the same time enjoying everyone’s presence.

Can’t wait to see the other athletes I haven’t seen since I’ve had my time away from Nottingham I’ve been back home and in addition to have fun and hopefully have a laugh. Hope all is well and your all okay and had an amazing Easter ❤️‍🔥

Tomorrow I will be doing my first domestic competition of the season. I would like to say my apologias for only just putting on my home suit Aldwych and yellow cover 132. But with the ongoing : lack of confidence, injuries and insecurities I wasn’t able to compete. And even-though I’m not much different this time round I think it’s only right I still as a SSPP athlete who argues and believes all skaters should skate domestics I skate it for the fun joy and connection it brings to all athletes around the country.

I hope that next season things open up more and we have the ability to compete more. But none the less I want to say I can’t wait to see everyone, and also have a good day of racing ✨