ASM: You are currently training for the 2015 World Championships and also the 2016 Olympic Games tell us how that is going:?
Hafsa: It is going great! I’m stronger and faster than I’ve ever been. I am still training at California State Northridge as an independent athlete under Coach Avery Anderson. Working with him has unveiled a level of training and competitiveness I was not able to obtain before. I am more confident in myself. I trust in his process and believe in the results. My goals are more precise and my focus is narrow and specific. 2015 is going to be a great year leading up to Rio!
ASM: What are you aims for the 2016 Olympic Games?
Hafsa: My goal for the Rio 2015 Olympics Games is to not only qualify in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m but to be able to lead our team AT LEAST in to the semi-finals of each event. This is a big goal not only for me but for Sierra Leone. It would be the furthest a Sierra Leone athlete has gone in the Olympic Games. We have the talent. We are being given the opportunity and support. Now it’s up to us to take that chance and make something of it.
ASM: What does Hafsa Kamara do for fun when you are not training?
Hafsa: I go home to my parents and watch Netflix with my siblings LOL. It seems ordinary but I’m away from my family months at a time, especially during competition season. Having that one weekend where I can just be surrounded by those I love definitely makes me feel balanced. Binge watching Law & Order: SVU and Once Upon Time is definitely a pastime I recommend to everyone! LOL. I also love to read. I don’t have a specific genre; if it catches my interest, I’m reading it. I am currently reading The Little Book of Talent by Daniel Coyle. It was given to me by a friend and I love every little tip in there. It’s a book you would want to reread once every month to remind you of the person you are striving to become.
ASM: Growing up in home with Sierra Leonean parents you definitely have been
introduced to Sierra Leonean Cuisine which one is your favorite:
Hafsa: I can’t choose! LOL. But I can narrow it down to my top 3: Okra dish, fried plantains, and pepper chicken. Unfortunately, I can’t have Sierra Leonean food often but when I can, I make sure I eat like it’s my last meal!