An athlete runs up the terraces of the national stadium. Athletes of the Sierra Leone Olympic squad work to qualify for the Sydney Games. Sierra Leone first attended the Olympics in 1968, but is yet to win any medals. Many of the hopefuls trained and slept in the national stadium in Freetown, with only one cold-water tap and no electricity.

Mohammed S. Sesay (20) uses makeshift weights at home. Athletes of the Sierra Leone Olympic squad work to qualify for the Sydney Games. Sierra Leone first attended the Olympics in 1968, but is yet to win any medals. Many of the hopefuls trained and slept in the national stadium in Freetown, with only one cold-water tap and no electricity.

Runners train using broken sticks to build up muscle and rhythm. Athletes of the Sierra Leone Olympic squad work to qualify for the Sydney Games. Sierra Leone first attended the Olympics in 1968, but is yet to win any medals. Many of the hopefuls trained and slept in the national stadium in Freetown, with only one cold-water tap and no electricity.

Fishermen draw their nets tight so that Quintin Hindwejivah Saliakonneh (17) can work on his high jump. Athletes of the Sierra Leone Olympic squad work to qualify for the Sydney Games. Sierra Leone first attended the Olympics in 1968, but is yet to win any medals. Many of the hopefuls trained and slept in the national stadium in Freetown, with only one cold-water tap and no electricity.

Mariatu Conteh (17) practices long jump. Athletes of the Sierra Leone Olympic squad work to qualify for the Sydney Games. Sierra Leone first attended the Olympics in 1968, but is yet to win any medals. Many of the hopefuls trained and slept in the national stadium in Freetown, with only one cold-water tap and no electricity.

Team trainer Joseph O'Reilly Campbell monitors his athletes performance. With no electricity available, a stop-watch must be used. Athletes of the Sierra Leone Olympic squad work to qualify for the Sydney Games. Sierra Leone first attended the Olympics in 1968, but is yet to win any medals. Many of the hopefuls trained and slept in the national stadium in Freetown, with only one cold-water tap and no electricity.

Practicing the high jump in the national stadium. Athletes of the Sierra Leone Olympic squad work to qualify for the Sydney Games. Sierra Leone first attended the Olympics in 1968, but is yet to win any medals. Many of the hopefuls trained and slept in the national stadium in Freetown, with only one cold-water tap and no electricity.

Members of the 400m relay squad exercise on Lumley Beach. Athletes of the Sierra Leone Olympic squad work to qualify for the Sydney Games. Sierra Leone first attended the Olympics in 1968, but is yet to win any medals. Many of the hopefuls trained and slept in the national stadium in Freetown, with only one cold-water tap and no electricity.

Mohammed S. Sesay (20) takes a break from training with the makeshift weights he uses at home. Athletes of the Sierra Leone Olympic squad work to qualify for the Sydney Games. Sierra Leone first attended the Olympics in 1968, but is yet to win any medals. Many of the hopefuls trained and slept in the national stadium in Freetown, with only one cold-water tap and no electricity.

Above downtown, the relay team do some hill training. They cannot train further up in the hills because of danger of attacks by the Revolutionary United Front. Athletes of the Sierra Leone Olympic squad work to qualify for the Sydney Games. Sierra Leone first attended the Olympics in 1968, but is yet to win any medals. Many of the hopefuls trained and slept in the national stadium in Freetown, with only one cold-water tap and no electricity.

Athletes wash after training at the stadium. Athletes of the Sierra Leone Olympic squad work to qualify for the Sydney Games. Sierra Leone first attended the Olympics in 1968, but is yet to win any medals. Many of the hopefuls trained and slept in the national stadium in Freetown, with only one cold-water tap and no electricity.

Frank Turay (24), lifting weights made from stones and cement at this home. Turay runs the 200m and 400m and is captain of the 4x400m relay team. Having competed in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, he is an inspiration to fellow athletes in Sierra Leone. Athletes of the Sierra Leone Olympic squad work to qualify for the Sydney Games. Sierra Leone first attended the Olympics in 1968, but is yet to win any medals. Many of the hopefuls trained and slept in the national stadium in Freetown, with only one cold-water tap and no electricity.

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