As we shift to the outdoor track season, an athlete to watch is Oak Park and River Forest High School senior Gee-gee Osei-Yeboah. Coming off the 2024 outdoor season, Osei-Yeboah was among the group of young men who won a state championship and walked away with a ring due to his outstanding performance.

When asked about the state championship, Osei-Yeboah said it wasn’t about the flashy ring but the years of dedication to the sport. “The ring showcases all of the work I’ve put in over the years,” he said. “It makes me grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given.” He recalled the late-night practices and reflected on how the work he put in for the ring were the hardest hours he’s ever trained.

That practice paid off. At state, he competed in the long jump, where he jumped 7.19 meters or 23 feet and 7 inches. After that, he competed in the triple jump and followed through with the 4×1. Osei-Yeboah’s passion for running began at a very young age, but it truly blossomed when he was around 12 or 13.

His lightbulb moment came in 2017 when, at just 10 years old, he qualified for the Junior Olympics in Detroit, Michigan. Competing against his age group and placing in the top eight made him realize his potential.

Seeing that he could make a name for himself and realizing he could overcome an ankle injury, which he had during that competition, made him realize just how much he loved this sport; he describes it as his “go for it all” moment.

However, track wasn’t his first love. First, it was football. “The feeling that I had while playing football is one that is hard to describe,” he said. “I just liked being competitive and saw the sport as something fun to spend my time playing…looking back, I saw it as a space to develop.”

While playing football, he used his speed to play running back and defensive back, which is the whole reason track entered his life. One of his coaches noticed his speed on the field and recommended that he take his skills to the track. Although it was recommended to him at a young age, he continued to play football until his sophomore year of high school, when he decided to stop playing and focus solely on track and field.

“His spark was noticed when we were running around the community lake. He was great at football, but there was something different when it came to running,” said his father, Fred Osei-Yeboah. “I knew he would go far because he was dedicated to his craft.”

Osei-Yeboah’s older brother, Kwesi Osei-Yeboah, played a significant role in his journey as well. When Osei-Yeboah was in 5th grade, his brother, who attended OPRF at the time and ran track, would bring him to his Saturday morning practices. While Osei-Yeboah was there, he would often beat some of the older athletes, catching the eye of the coaches.

Training is a crucial part of his routine. He follows a rigorous schedule that balances school, practice, and rest. His dedication to his sport is shown in his daily lifestyle, from having a specific diet to his handcrafted training program that focuses on building his speed, agility and strength. Even though he trains hard, he likes to focus on his mentality as well.

He expressed that regardless of how hard he trains, it’s his mental strength that got him to where he is. As a member of the team, he likes to make sure that everyone is in the right mental space.

“He’s the heart of the team,” said junior Riley Jackson. “His mentality inspires all the other boys. It makes people look up to him.”

Because he is good at his sport, he knows there are going to be people who try to get in his head. So he needs to make sure he remains grounded, especially before competing. “Durung championship meets, although there are outside factors that try and get inside of my head, I like to use it to fuel me rather than letting it be the reason I overthink… being free is a very big part of my event ( long jump)…becoming unfocused leads me to take a bad step” Said Osei-Yeboah.

He thanks his coaches for ensuring he gets a good warm-up before his events. He also likes to listen to music to calm his nerves. One song he always plays is “Years Go By” by Bryson Tiller.

He described handling the pressure of competition, especially during Illinois meets, as “an adrenaline boost because I know people are watching me…I like to put the pressure on myself sometimes to set the tone for the meet.”

Although Osei-Yeboah is a few weeks shy of announcing where he will take his talents the next four years, he hinted that the University of South Florida could be his new home. He spoke highly of their program and has it at number one on his list.