BRISTOL, Va. (AP) - For those who watched him play football at the University of Virginia’s College at Wise, the fact that Hakeem Abdul-Saboor is now an Olympian isn’t really a surprise.
The guy was skilled at everything he did.
“He was the best athlete on campus at Wise and still is one of the best athletes I’ve seen in person,” said former UVa-Wise quarterback Brad Robbins. “If he didn’t deal with injuries I think he would have had a legit shot to play in the NFL.”
The National Football League never became a reality for Abdul-Saboor, but his athletic journey has taken him to the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
Abdul-Saboor was named to the United States men’s Olympic bobsled team this past Monday morning and will compete in both the two-man and four-man races.
Opening ceremonies are scheduled for Feb. 9 and bobsledding competition begins Feb. 18.
Abdul-Saboor will team with Nick Cunningham, Christopher Kinney and Sam Michener in the four-man event. He will push Cunningham in the two-man sleigh.
“This journey has been crazy at times but also amazing,” Abdul-Saboor posted on both his Facebook and Instagram accounts. “And I just want to thank everyone for all of your help and support along the way.”
A Powhatan, Virginia, native, Abdul-Saboor played football at UVa-Wise from 2005-09 and racked up 1,292 rushing yards, 1,118 receiving yards and 31 total touchdowns for the Highland Cavaliers.
“Football came easy to him,” said Jacob Fowler, an offensive lineman at UVa-Wise when Abdul-Saboor was starring for the Cavs. “I remember we were playing Georgetown I believe. He had a broken hand and was still playing receiver. Randy (Hippeard) threw the ball up to him down the sideline and he made an incredible catch over a defender, with basically one hand. He switched to running back later in his time at Wise but he could’ve played all over the field, including the defensive secondary. He was just a natural in terms of his speed and explosiveness.”
After his senior season at UVa-Wise was cut short after just four games due to a knee injury, Abdul-Saboor dabbled in track and bodybuilding, before taking up bobsledding in 2015.
It didn’t take him long to land a spot on the national team with his combination of brute strength and quickness.
“It will be exciting to see him compete in the Olympics,” Fowler said. “I’m looking forward to it as I’m sure all of our former teammates are as well. It is a great story and a perfect example of how you never know what direction life takes you.”
It will be the second straight Olympics in which an athlete who attended a local college has participated. King University’s Haley Augello wrestled for the United States in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil, while Ireland’s Seamus Power (East Tennessee State) was in the golf competition.
Kemar Hyman, who ran track at King University for two years, represented the Cayman Islands in the 100-meter dash in the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics.
Meanwhile, Appalachia High School graduate Ollan Cassell won a gold medal while on the United States men’s 4x400 meter relay team at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
Now, another athlete with area ties will achieve the Olympic dream.
“It will be cool,” Robbins said. “Hakeem is someone that everyone is rooting for to do well. I think everyone that was around him at Wise will be paying close attention.”
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Information from: Bristol Herald Courier, http://www.bristolnews.com
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