Ferdinand Omanyala, Africa’s fastest sprinter, has opened up about the challenges he’s faced on the international stage, revealing how recent disappointments have humbled him and forced him to reassess his approach. The 100m Commonwealth Games champion, once poised for even greater success after a stellar 2022 season, fell short of expectations at both the Paris Olympic Games and the 2023 World Athletics Championships.
After dominating the African sprint scene and setting a world-leading time of 9.79 seconds at the Kenyan National trials for the Paris Olympics, Omanyala was considered a serious contender for a medal. However, his hopes were dashed when he finished eighth in the semifinals in Paris, failing to advance to the final. This result came on the heels of another setback at the World Championships in Budapest, where Omanyala finished seventh in the 100m final, despite being among the favorites.
Reflecting on his experience, Omanyala shared, “At some point, I thought I was sitting at the top of the world but failed to reach the final at the Paris Olympics.” The 28-year-old sprinter admitted that the fierce competition at these high-level events has reminded him of the importance of continual improvement and the dangers of complacency.
“I can’t go back and change anything about what has happened, but I can only pick lessons and work on things that will make me better next time,” Omanyala said during the launch of Athletics Kenya’s 2024/2025 calendar of events, titled Road to Tokyo. He emphasized that his underwhelming performances have taught him valuable lessons about the need for constant growth.
Despite these challenges, Omanyala continues to make strides in his career. Earlier in 2023, he became the first Kenyan sprinter to win a 100m race at the Diamond League, triumphing in Monaco. But his recent experiences have underscored the need for continuous learning and development.
“Any mistake can be costly,” Omanyala acknowledged. “The 2024 season was yet another season of learning… we learn every day, in our jobs, schools, and generally in life. We shall never stop learning.”
Looking ahead, Omanyala has set his sights on the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, where he hopes to regain his standing among the sport’s elite. For now, he is taking a six-week break from training to focus on personal matters, including the growth of his Omanyala Foundation. This time off will allow him to reset both physically and mentally, with plans to unveil his 2024 program in January.
Omanyala’s journey continues to be one of resilience, as he remains determined to bounce back stronger and reclaim his position at the top of the sprinting world.
