Breaking: “Blessed to Receive the Offer for Roadrunners” UTSA Signs Olympian Elite athlete

The Roadrunners are welcoming Olympian and NCAA Division II National Champion Fatoumata Kabo to their hurdles and sprint team for the 2024-2025 season, as announced by Aaron Fox, UTSA’s director of track and field/cross country, on July 15.

Kabo, who was born in Senegal and grew up in Carpenedolo, Italy, is 22 years old and will soon be heading to Paris for the 2024 Olympic Games after securing a spot on the Italian national team.

Kabo is set to compete in the 4x400m relay on August 9 and 10. She achieved her personal best of 52.24 seconds in the 400-meter individual medley, finishing fourth in the individual event final at the Italian Championships, which earned her an invitation on June 29.

With the recent Olympic qualifications of former UTSA Roadrunners Alanah Yukich and Diego Pettorossi, Kabo becomes the fifth Roadrunner to qualify for the Olympics.

After the Games, Kabo will relocate to San Antonio after spending the last two seasons competing for Angelo State University. In her first year focusing on long hurdles, she won two NCAA Division II national titles in the 400-meter hurdles (with a time of 57.39 seconds) and contributed a 51.4-second split as part of ASU’s 4x400m relay team, which finished with a combined time of 3:32.88.

We spoke with Kabo about her Olympic experience and her upcoming time at UTSA this fall.

Q: What does your daily routine look like as you prepare for the Olympics, and how do you stay mentally grounded in such a demanding sport?

Currently, I’m in a training camp in a beautiful mountain setting with the Italian national team. Each day, I train with the other athletes, practice relay changes, and do physiotherapy as needed. Since it’s my first time with the national team, I’m focusing on getting to know my teammates and keeping up with them.

Q: What was your reaction upon learning you’d earned a spot in the 2024 Olympic Games?

When I found out I was selected for the Olympics, I was in disbelief—it’s still hard to grasp. It’s my first time with the national team, and being called up for the Olympics feels like a dream come true. I’m filled with joy and gratitude.

Q: When do you head to Paris?

Assuming everything goes as planned, I’ll travel to Paris on August 6.

Q: What do you expect your daily experience at the Olympics to be like?

I’m not really sure what to expect, but I definitely want to embrace it and take it one day at a time with the right mindset.

Q: What have you learned about yourself while training as a college and Olympic athlete?

I’ve discovered that I can be mentally stronger than I realized. I’ve come to understand that discipline is more important than just motivation. There are days when I don’t feel like training, but I have to push through because it’s essential for my progress in competition.

Q: What are your main goals, both professionally and personally for the 2024-2025 season?

I’m a bit superstitious, so I’ll keep my specific goals private. However, one of my objectives is to join a military company and start my professional athletic career, turning my passion into my job. Who knows? If I master alternate leg bounds, you might see me in the 400m races. So much can happen in a year!

Q: How has your transition to life in Texas been?

My first semester was challenging, and I even considered going back home. When I first arrived in Texas, I spent my first night at Whataburger and felt very out of place. I didn’t know anyone, faced a significant language barrier, and struggled to communicate during school and practice, apart from with my French and Italian teammates.

Initially, I didn’t feel integrated into the team. After my first semester, I went home for the break, uncertain about returning to the U.S. because I wasn’t satisfied with my environment. I had also injured my hamstring and felt my physical health was ignored.

I took the summer to rest and recuperate. I eventually decided to come back to America, even though I wasn’t fully healed from my injury. I wanted to prove that I deserved the scholarship I received and show my talent and capability to contribute to the team.

I focused on physical therapy and listened to my body. As I progressed, I began to make more friends from all over the world and finally felt like I was living my American dream. Although it was not easy, I’m grateful I persevered because it allowed me to grow as an athlete.

Q: What are you most excited about regarding your move to San Antonio and attending UTSA?

I’m really looking forward to meeting Coach Jackie Richards and Kareem Street-Thompson in person. They have made a great impression on me by showing genuine interest in me and my family, which means a lot. I value that kind of communication in a coach-athlete relationship.

I’m also eager to move to a larger city that offers more activities during my free time. In my first year and a half, my focus was mainly on school, training, and home life, but now I want to set aside time for my personal interests. I can’t wait to start classes and learn new things!