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Omalla may be an Olympic champion now for the Netherlands, but he represented Uganda earlier in his career and also played rugby for Kenya's Rift Valley Academy as a high schooler.
When Eugene Omalla was playing high school rugby for the Rift Valley Academy in the Kenya Rugby Union Preston Cup in 2017 as a winger, no one would ever have envisioned him one day becoming an Olympic champion in the sport, let alone track and field.
Well, that was clearly not the case, as he earned an Olympic gold medal on Saturday in the 4x400 for Netherlands, who were largely inspired by Femke Bol at Stade de France in Paris.
In the Finals, Omalla ran the first leg of the relay, with teammates Lieke Klaver, Isaya Klein Ikkink and Bol, to a time of 3:07.43, three-tenths of a second ahead of team USA with a silver medal time of 3:07.74.
During Round 1 on Friday, August 2, Omalla also ran the first leg to lead The Netherlands, with Cathelijn Peeters in place of Bol, to 2nd place in the second heat with a time of 3:10.81.
Omalla, who is now based in Kansas, USA and studies at Kansas State University adds to the Wildcats Olympic trophy case, earning the 10th medal in school history and the 4th gold medal.
Here is everything you need to know about Omalla:
Early Life and Background
Eugene Omalla was born in Zoetermeer, Netherlands, to a Ugandan father and a Dutch mother. He has a twin brother, Jaime Omalla, who is also an athlete.
The Omalla family lived in the Netherlands until the twins were seven years old, after which they moved to Uganda. Their diverse cultural background and early life experiences have played a significant role in shaping their athletic careers.
Moving to the United States
Eugene and Jaime Omalla both study at Kansas State University in the United States. Their move to Kansas was a pivotal moment in their athletic development, as they both began competing at a higher level, representing their university and setting records.
Transitioning to Athletics
Eugene Omalla’s athletic journey began in a different sport—rugby. In 2017, he played as a winger for Rift Valley Academy in the Kenya Rugby Union Prescott Cup.
Despite his success in rugby, few could have predicted that Omalla would eventually become an Olympic champion in track and field.
Athletic achievements
Omalla's shift to athletics proved to be a wise decision. He began to make a name for himself on the track, particularly in the 400 meters.
In May 2023, he ran an outdoor personal best of 46.06 seconds for the 400 meters. He also set a new African continental record for the indoor 400 meters with a time of 45.18 seconds at the Sports Performance Center in Lubbock.
Omalla qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships in Boston, Massachusetts, where he competed in the 400 meters and the 4x400m relay. In the individual event, he ran a time of 46.37 seconds.
Alongside his brother Jaime, Tavon Underwood, and Kyle Gayle, he helped Kansas State secure a bronze medal in the relay final.
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