Get To Know Our Inspirational Athletes – Frederick Afrifa
Introducing: Frederick Afrifa: International Sprinter, Motivational Speaker & BBC The Apprentice 2025
At Inspirational Athletes, we’re proud to work with an incredible team of sportspeople who inspire young people across the UK every day. Our Get to Know Our Athletes series is your chance to hear directly from them – in their own words.
These videos are a chance for our Inspirational Athletes to answers some quickfire questions, sharing a bit more about who they are, what drives them, and what sport has taught them along the way.
Frederick Afrifa’s journey from a one-bedroom flat in South London to the international athletics stage is nothing short of remarkable.
A two-time national Gold medallist and World Youth Relay Champion, Frederick has also appeared on Ninja Warrior UK and, more recently, BBC’s The Apprentice (2025) – showcasing not just athletic ability, but entrepreneurial spirit and resilience.
Born in Italy, Frederick moved to the UK aged 12, speaking hardly any English. Despite the odds, he quickly found his passion in athletics, rising through the ranks to become London Schools Champion (2011), Surrey County Champion (2015), and National Champion (2018). He went on to represent Italy at international level, winning two gold medals along the way.
When his professional athletics contract was unexpectedly cut in 2020, Frederick didn’t give up. He took work as a delivery driver to stay afloat while building a new path forward. That same determination led him into motivational speaking, where he now shares powerful insights on resilience, mindset and overcoming adversity.
Frederick’s talks are honest, high-energy and deeply impactful. With lived experience of setbacks, reinvention, and elite performance, he delivers motivational workshops that cover:
Overcoming obstacles – building resilience and bouncing back stronger
Motivation & goal-setting – achieving success against the odds
Mindset matters – shifting perspective to unlock potential
With a relatable, dynamic style and the rare ability to engage audiences from schools to boardrooms, Frederick Afrifa is the perfect speaker to inspire ambition, self-belief, and personal growth.
