Hakeem ABDUL-SABOOR

Historical Results

Hakum

His dog Maverick, fixing things (using YouTube).

Athlete, Sport soldier

Bachelor's degree in Sports Management from the University of Virginia's College at Wise (USA).

English

National: Mike Kohn (USA)

Crew

Athletics: Competed in long jump, triple jump, shot put, discus, hurdles, 100m and 200m in high school.

American football: Played college football at the University of Virginia-Wise. Amassed 2,234 total yards, with 31 touchdowns in his career, which currently ranks fifth in UVa-Wise history for rushing touchdowns.

Bodybuilding: Trained and competed in the men's physique category. Won a People's Choice Award in Bodybuilding.com’s FIT USA Men’s competition in 2012.

2016 World Cup in Lake Placid (Two-man - 11th)

2009: Tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee playing American football during his senior year of university, which ended his hopes of pursuing a professional football career.

2007: Tore his right ACL playing American football.

2015

Soon after his college career came to an end, he moved to Knoxville, TN, where he became a personal trainer and speed-agility-quickness coach. During a staff workout, he was recorded showing off his explosiveness by jumping to touch his head to the ceiling. Strength coach Brad DeWeese from the Olympic Training Site at Eastern Tennessee State University saw the video and invited Abdul-Saboor to compete in the next combine for USA Bobsled - where he scored perfectly in every event. (hakeemusa.com; wfla.com, 8 Feb 2018)

"The fact that I could compete after college was the biggest thing that appealed to me. [Tearing my ACL] left an empty hole in my heart because I had plans of trying to go to the next level to play in the NFL."

"This sport is an adrenaline rush. There is no other feeling like it. When you’re standing on the line and ready to push, there is nothing else that matters at that point in time. We put in 10-plus-hour days outside of sliding, working on our sleds and preparing our bodies to be ready to go down for two one-minute runs. Some would think that is a lot of time to work, but those two minutes while you’re on the ice going as fast as you can and flirting with the fine line of winning or crashing are unlike any other thing you will experience." (richmondmagazine.com, 21 Feb 2018)

In the morning on race days, eats a meal high in carbohydrates then does a light lifting session with plyometrics. Before the race, he jogs and does sprint drills before mentally preparing himself for the competition. (richmondmagazine.com, 21 Feb 018)

"The most important thing in life is not the triumph, but the struggle." - Pierre de Coubertin (Info 2018)