Olympics
Exclusive: Kenya’s Sprinting Sensation Omanyala Aims High for Paris Olympics
Kenya's sprinting star Ferdinand Omanyala sets his sights on the Paris Olympics, aiming for gold. Discover his journey, aspirations, and the rigorous training fueling his Olympic dreams.
Image Credit: LUIS TATO/AFP via Getty Images
Ferdinand Omanyala is ranked the third fastest sprinter in the world and ninth fastest in history.
He is affectionately referred to as the Beast from the East and he lives up to billing anytime he competes in his 100m race.
This time around however, Omanyala is not just putting in the sweat and miles on the track in preparation for the upcoming Olympics, but he is also drawing strength from his faith.
Spirituality Comes First
A recent chat with the sprinting sensation revealed the spiritual side of him. Omanyala draws inspiration from his faith, particularly the book of Ecclesiastes 7:8.
The verse reads: "Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud."
The Bible verse resonates with Omanyala because it emphasizes patience, a virtue that has been crucial for him this season. The sprinter had a rather rocky start to the season that put him at the centre of criticism.
Image Credits: AllAfrica.com
African Record Breaker
He started his season with a fifth-place finish at the rainy 2024 edition of the Kip Keino Classic which happened in April at the Nyayo National Stadium. He ran 10:03.
The conversation would however change after he proved to be the King of 100m on the same track in June after he raced clear to register a personal best of 9.79 during the Olympics trials to confirm his spot in the Paris 2024 Olympics.
That performance brought him too close to breaking his African record of 9:77 which he set during the 2020 Kipkeino Classic.
It also made him the only Kenyan sprinter to attain an Olympics qualification time.
That was also his second sub-10 this season having 9.98 clocked at the Prefontaine Classic in May.
He then clocked 10.02 at the Racers Grand Prix in Jamaica in early June.
But he was not done. On Sunday July 8, he was the talk of town after capping his Olympic preparations with a commanding victory at the FBK Games in Hengelo, Netherlands.
He was making a return to Europe for his final pre-Olympics race, and stepped out of the blocks with ferocity, taking the lead and ultimately easing to the finish line in a winning time of 10.01.
I started the season on a low and there were a lot of critics. But now I am peaking. It feels good,
Omanyala
Omanyala’s Peak Will Come in Paris
The audibly excited Omanyala viewed the milestone as a pivotal moment in his career and is now poised for even greater success, the Olympics.
Despite winning in Hengelo, Omanyala noted that he did not run his best race due to the rainy weather. He explained that the challenging conditions affected his performance and prevented him from achieving his optimal speed and form.
“I wanted to run a very good race, but the weather failed me. Muscles work and stretch well when it is warm. The weather dampened my mood and at some point, I wanted to complete the race and go to my room. I am glad that I won,” he revealed.
Plan for the Olympics
With less than a month to his first Olympic race, Omanyala was confident that he would impress. His first race will be on August 3, followed by the semifinal and eventually finals on 4th.
He did not want to promise much, emphasising that making bold promises would only lead to unnecessary pressure. He insists on focusing on one race at a time.
“Winning the FBK games means that the road is clear now and as we head to Paris, good things are coming,” he offered.
He will now adjust to Olympics mode by doing more repetitions in training as he aims to lower his time in the star-studded field.
“Right now, I am focused on maintaining the peak. I am working on acceleration and intensity. I will run like three races in two days, and I have to be fuelled for that task,” he said.
When asked what his message to his competitors was, the sprinting maestro calmly said, “When I peak I do it very well. They should be worried.”
Omanyala made his Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020 in 2021. However, the Kenyan was unable to make it past the semi-final round and he will be hoping to break the jinx this time around.
Tabby Nashipae is a young Kenyan sports journalist known for her insightful reporting and passionate storytelling. Her work is characterized by her ability to connect with sportspersons and bring their stories to life, capturing the human element behind the competition.