On this episode of new renaissance capital, Frank sits down with Akhona Mabuto Livingstone, better known as "The Orange Rocket" in Mossel Bay, South Africa.

Akhona is a part of both the Bitcoin Ekasi (https://bitcoinekasi.com/) and The Surfer Kids (https://www.thesurferkids.com/) communities. With the Surfer Kids project, he teaches children how to swim and surf in an after school program. For his work, he's paid in bitcoin.

In 2018, he became interested in triathlon after completing the swim leg of a triathlon for a three-person team with whom he entered the race. It wasn't until 2024, though, that he cleaned up his life and prepared to compete in his first half Ironman (Ironman 70.3), which took place in his home town of Mossel Bay.

Now, with the support of the Bitcoin community, Akhona aims to compete in an Ironman 70.3 World Championship race within two years before competing the full Ironman World Championships within the years after that.

Akhona's story is deeply compelling given he was born into apartheid and doesn't come from much means. However, he's chosen to make notable changes in his life (e.g., giving up drinking alcohol) to focus on the mission at hand: becoming a world-class Ironman racer.

Because this process won't be easy, we're asking for your help.

Please be sure to follow Akhona on the following platforms:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/orange.rocket.btc

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingstoneakhona/

X: https://x.com/OrangeRocketBTC

Nostr: npub1xf3277ggqr6umj0pe25chd3s5vga8cjdhr4us8kfeqhpv9huxkxsjnhv7d

Please tag these companies to help Akhona get sponsored by them:

Ironman:

https://x.com/IRONMANtri

https://www.facebook.com/IRONMANtri

https://www.instagram.com/ironmantri/

Sailish: https://www.facebook.com/people/sailfish/100064569614958/

Specialized:

https://x.com/iamspecialized

https://www.facebook.com/specializedbicycles/

https://www.instagram.com/iamspecialized/

Felt:

https://x.com/feltbicycles

https://www.facebook.com/feltbicycles/

https://www.instagram.com/feltbicycles/

Brooks:

https://x.com/brooksrunning

https://www.facebook.com/brooksrunning

https://www.instagram.com/brooksrunning/

On:

https://x.com/on_running

https://www.facebook.com/On#

https://www.instagram.com/on/

Adidas:

https://x.com/adidas

https://www.facebook.com/adidasUS/

https://www.instagram.com/adidas/

Garmin:

https://x.com/Garmin

https://www.facebook.com/Garmin/

https://www.instagram.com/garmin/

32Gi:

https://x.com/32Gi

https://www.facebook.com/32GiSportsNutrition

https://www.instagram.com/32gi/

World Triathlon:

https://x.com/worldtriathlon

https://www.facebook.com/worldtriathlon

https://www.instagram.com/worldtriathlon/

Frank's piece on Bitcoin Ekasi for Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/frankcorva/2025/03/29/south-african-bitcoin-circular-economy-project-deepens-community-ties/

Timestamps:

0:00 Highlight

0:40 Introduction

2:39 Akhona Introduces Himself

4:54 How Akhona Got Involved with Bitcoin Ekasi

6:07 Akhona's Work with The Surfer Kids Project

7:01 How Akhona Started Racing Triathlons

10:41 How the Bitcoin Ekasi Community Changed Akhona's Life

13:28 The Orange Rocket

14:21 The Importance of Challenging Oneself

15:13 Akhona's Daily Routine

17:39 Training during the Winter

20:33 The Support of the Bitcoin Ekasi Community

23:04 Akhona's Upcoming Races

28:29 Akhona's Ultimate Goal

31:08 Members of the Surfer Kids Compete at National Champs

32:12 Akhona On Being a Role Model

36:19 Preparing to Qualify for Half Ironman World Champs

38:18 Akhona's Diet

40:32 Final Thoughts

bitcoin #btc #triathlon #ironman #halfironman #halfironmantraining #kona #africa #southafrica #mosselbay #mindset #mindsetshift #motivation #empowerment #rockybalboa #rocky #machankura