Africa’s fastest man over 100m, Ferdinand Omanyala is determined
to erase the memories of a lackluster showing at the Paris Olympics
and has promised a resounding
comeback in 2025.
The Kenyan sprint sensation, known for his electrifying pace, reflected on the highs and lows of his career, vowing to return stronger in the upcoming season.
“Sports mirrors life—it’s never a straight line. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. This year had its challenges but we are focused on making 2025 a better season,” Omanyala said.
Omanyala opened up about the mental struggles that affected his 2024 performances, admitting that his mindset was his biggest rival.
“I was dealing with a lot mentally and my focus wasn’t where it needed to be. But now, I’m in a better space and ready to give my all next year,” he said.
Despite falling short of the 100m final in Paris, Omanyala took solace in his season-best performance, which saw him clock the world’s second-fastest time in 2024.
“Finishing as the second fastest person in the world is a big achievement. Many people were putting my season on a scale because of the Olympics,” he noted.
Omanyala’s 9.79 seconds at the Kenyan Olympic Trials was briefly the world-leading mark until Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson posted a blistering 9.77 at his national trials.
However, at the Paris Olympics in August, Omanyala failed to make it past the semis, clocking 10.08 in semifinal 3.
Omanyala is already in intensive training for the action-packed 2025 season, which begins with the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, from March 21 to 23.
“We are following a structured training programme to get the body in top shape. My first race in March will set the tone for the season and build towards the World Championships in September,” he explained.
The 28-year-old has already met the 10.00 entry standard for the 2025 World Championships with a 9.88 from the Silesia Diamond League.
Omanyala will be hoping for improved results from his seventh-place finish ( 10.07 ) during last year’s championships in Budapest, Hungary. Beyond personal goals, he is committed to creating a legacy through the Omanyala Foundation.
The initiative seeks to nurture young Kenyan sprinters, starting from primary school to professional levels. “The main purpose of the Omanyala foundation is to nurture sprinters.”
“The pathway has already been
set and I am looking to nurture
young talents straight from primary school into high school and then
the Omanyala Foundation training
camps,” he noted.
