Sports
New Jersey Bodybuilder-Turned-Bobsledder Goes For Olympic Gold
Learn how a Facebook video got a bodybuilder born in Essex County started down the road to the 2018 Winter Olympics.
ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — The story of bodybuilder-turned-Olympic bobsledder Hakeem Abdul-Saboor, an East Orange native, is one of determination, hard work and adaptability. It’s also a testament to the power of an eye-catching video on social media.
On Feb. 18, Abdul-Saboor – who is the first Olympic bobsledder in at least two decades that can say he was also a former bodybuilder – will go for the gold along with his teammates in PyeongChang, South Korea.
- See related article: Montclair State Student Skates Way To 2018 Olympics
Abdul-Saboor, 30, was introduced to bobsled in 2015 and made the U.S. Olympic bobsled team this season, according to nbcolympics.com. But his story began in his birthplace, East Orange, and his days playing football at Powhatan High School in Virginia.
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Abdul-Saboor, a former running back, once ran a 4.30-second 40-yard dash. But his football career ended in 2009 when he tore his ACL. That was when the all-around athlete got into the world of physique competitions, entering his first contest in 2012.
- See related article: Caldwell Bodybuilder Captures N.J. Prize, Flexing Way Into Professional Ranks
After placing fourth in the competition, Abdul-Saboor began participating in more events, eventually winning three titles. But without the financial backing to go professional, he eventually migrated to Knoxville, Tennessee, where he found a job as a personal trainer. And it was here that Abdul-Saboor recorded the Facebook video that put him on the path to the Olympics.
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While working at Performance Training Inc., Abdul-Saboor recorded a video of himself leaping into the air and touching his head to a 10-foot ceiling. (Watch the video below) The clip eventually caught the attention of Brad DeWeese, a former U.S. Olympic Committee head of physiology and associate professor at East Tennessee State University.
“Having coached a large portion of Olympians in the sport, it was obvious that Hakeem had the power and physical build to be successful in bobsled,” DeWeese told nbcolympics.com.
DeWeese tracked down Abdul-Saboor through Facebook and invited him to a nearby dryland bobsled combined event. Now – just a few years later after paying his dues as a push athlete on the minor-league North American Cup and competing in three World Cups - Abdul-Saboor will make his Olympic debut pushing veteran driver Nick Cunningham alongside Christopher Kinney and Sam Michener.
Abdul-Saboor – a Rottweiler owner and YouTube self-repair fanatic - will also push Cunningham in the two-man competition.
Read more about Abdul-Saboor’s path to the Olympics here.
This is why we are here! To raise our flag high and represent #America . Opening ceremonies was unlike any other event i have ever been a part of. The feelings that are felt at that time are unreal and something i can not explain. This feeling just comes over your body that fills you with all kinds of emotions. Thank you to everyone who has helped and supported me on this journey. I cannot thank you enough. And special thanks to the man upstairs! Let the games begin!:-) * * * * #USA #olympian #olympics #blessed #npc #igfit #vision #fitness #cardio #diet #healthy #fitbodies #motivation #instagood #aesthetics #exercise #strong #goals #gymrat #motivation #hardwork #healthylifestyle #fitspiration #gym #swole #gains #bobsled #bobsleigh #united
A post shared by Hakeem (@has_fitness) on Feb 10, 2018 at 6:25pm PST
Be obsessed with #theprocess, fall in love with the #results! Big thanks to @underarmour and @beatsbydre for the support! * * * * #fitfam #fitspo #physique #bodybuilding #npc #igfit #vision #fitness #nutrition #diet #fitbodies #motivation #instagood #aesthetics #exercise #strong #goals #gymrat #motivation #hardwork #healthylifestyle #fitspiration #gym #swole #USA #gains #bobsled #bobsleigh
A post shared by Hakeem (@has_fitness) on Jan 25, 2018 at 3:28pm PST
I am honored to announce that i was named to the 2018 Olympic bobsled Team and will be representing team USA in febuary. I will competing in both two man and four man at the games with my pilot @bobsledr and teammates @kai_kun24 and @sam_michener. This journey has been crazy at times but also amazing and i just want to thank everyone for all of your help and support along the way. I could not have made it with out you. Thanks to my strength coach @drbraddeweese for introducing me to this sport and helping me become the best bobsledder i can be. I'm still at a lost for words right now but am excited to continue to grind it out and work hard to be my best at the Olympic games.To my friends and family who have been nothing but supportive in this journey, I am forever grateful. Thank you! * * * * #qualified #olympics #teamusa #bodybuilding #npc #igfit #vision #fitness #roadtopyeongchang #nutrition #diet #healthy #fitbodies #motivation #instagood #aesthetics #exercise #strong #imadeit #gymrat #motivation #hardwork #healthylifestyle #fitspiration #gym #swole #USA #bobsleigh #bobsled
A post shared by Hakeem (@has_fitness) on Jan 15, 2018 at 8:12am PST
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Main Photo: Team USA / Flickr
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