It’s another day at the track, and sprinter Hafstau Kamara of Sierra Leone has only one thing on her mind: becoming the first female from her country to medal in a major track and field competition. As Sierra Leone’s fastest female sprinter (in 100m and 200m), she’s made immense strides towards making that dream a reality.
Most recently, her lifetime commitment to track earned her a ticket to the Rio Olympics, where she became the first-ever Sierra Leonean athlete to advance beyond the preliminaries in any event. She now has her sights set on Tokyo 2020 and beyond, as her debut performance in Rio gave her the experience and insight she needed to compete on the world’s biggest stage.
Armed with a tireless work ethic and her Halo Sport headset (and a little motivation from her favorite R&B anthems), she’s determined to make a mark on her country’s history. Here’s a look at how Hafsatu got to where she is today, how she stays on top of her rigorous training and Neuropriming schedule, and why in the future there appears to be no stopping her.
The beginning: Hafsatu rediscovers the muscle memory she built in childhood
“I don’t remember it, but my grandparents have pictures of me in the Sierra Leone National Stadium, in my track clothes and my little sneakers.”
Hafsatu (her friends call her “Hafsa”) first started running track as a child while living with her grandparents in Sierra Leone, but didn’t return to the sport until high school. When she started running again, she thought she was trying a completely new sport, but she was a natural from the start. Without even realizing it, Hafsa had uncovered a fundamental truth about training: that repetition induces lasting motor learning in the motor cortex of the brain — a mechanism Halo Sport draws on to accelerate improvements in performance when paired with training.
The inspiration: Hafsatu learns to work towards unlocking her potential
“My most inspirational coach was the type that would pull that potential out of you — no matter what. He showed me the potential I had to go further in the sport.”
The first lesson Hafsa needed to learn when starting out was how to push herself towards her goals. She first learned this from her track coach: Coach Carmichael. Carmichael taught Hafsa that talent alone wasn’t enough — that she was going to have to work hard to reach her full potential.
Hafsa fully internalized her coach’s invaluable message, which resonated particularly strong with her, as hard work was what allowed her family to build a new life after immigrating from Sierra Leone. Her track journal proudly displays a cover reading: “You have the key to unlock your potential.” Attitudes like Hafsa’s are the inspiration behind Halo Sport: by combining talent, hard work, and training smart, we believe that anyone can reach their full potential.
