Cynthia Appiah is a celebrated Canadian Bobsledder who captured her second Crystal Globe trophy during the 2022/23 IBSF World Cup season and finished the season as the the 3rd ranked women’s Monobob pilot in the world.

Starting her career in the back of the sled as a brakewoman, Cynthia had an outstanding rookie season in 2015/16 pushing for two-time Olympic Champion, Kaillie Humphries, winning multiple medals on the World Cup circuit. She also backed rookie pilot Alysia Rissling to her first ever World Cup bronze medal. After being named an alternate for Team Canada at the 2018 Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Cynthia decided to switch positions from brakewoman to pilot and has been in that position ever since.

Cynthia’s strongest event has become the Monobob. She claimed two victories in the event in 2019 and finished 5th at the 2021 World Championships. Cynthia would go on to have a breakout campaign during the 2021/22 season, twice making the World Cup podium as a pilot, which helped her to earn a coveted Crystal Globe. Cynthia represented Canada in the Monobob and 2-woman events at the Beijing Olympics, finishing 8th in both, leaving plenty of room for improvement at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Despite being the victim of occasional racism competing in a sport where black pilots are rare, Cynthia has persevered and maintains a positive and hopeful outlook for the future. Appiah’s journey toward a life in elite sport began with the support of the Jays Care Foundation outreach initiative where children from under-privileged Toronto neighborhoods are invited to learn to play baseball at a local park. Cynthia’s parents immigrated to Canada from Ghana and she’s exceptionally proud of all that her family has achieved. She’s never allowed living in Toronto Community Housing to define herself or her family. Cynthia looks to inspire all kids growing up in difficult circumstances to chase their dreams even when they seem impossible.