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Ferdinand Omanyala has gone down memory lane to share how it felt like to post his first sub-10 performance back in 2021.
Commonwealth Games champion Ferdinand Omanyala has gone down memory lane to remind his fans of the first time he posted a sub-10 performance.
Speaking in a video on his X handle, the 27-year-old explained that it was after the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games that he was able to run his first sub-10.
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20:00 - 13.10.2023
ATHLETICS How Ferdinand Omanyala is spending his off season
Africa's fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala has many activities lined up for him in his off season.
He had just exited the Olympic Games empty-handed, clocking 10.00 to finish third in the semifinal and miss out on a chance in the final. At the time, Omanyala disclosed that he did not have sponsors and he had to cater for his expenses for his next race.
Africa’s fastest man noted that he paid for his flight to Austria, for the JOSKO Laufmeeting, where he posted his first time under 10 seconds. He clocked 9.96 to win the heats and extended the hot streak to the final which he won in a time of 9.86.
“I really hoped that I could run a sub-10 at the Olympics in 2021 but I always say that everything has a reason.
Because it happened 10 days after the Olympic Games in Austria. I did not have any sponsorship at the time and nobody was funding me.
So I took all my allowance from the Olympic Games and just paid my tickets. During the race in Austria as I got out of the blocks really quickly and I was just running and then I crossed the finish line and it was 9.96…I couldn’t believe it.
2021 was my breakthrough year and people started to have a clue of who Omanyala is,” he narrated.
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09:39 - 12.10.2023
ATHLETICS Ferdinand Omanyala & Noah Lyles make their choice for Women’s World Athlete of the Year award
World 100m and 200m champion Noah Lyles and Africa’s fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala have cast their vote for their preferred Women’s World Athlete of the Year from the 11 shortlisted.
He added that setting the African record time of 9.77 was also a great moment for him since he was competing against a very strong field.
The race had attracted track stars including Justin Gatlin and Trayvon Bromell among other athletes. Omanyala also disclosed that during his warm up session, he had encountered an injury on his leg and he was not sure of how he would perform.
“Going into the event, it was going to be Omanyala against Gatlin. There was so much excitement at the warm up area but as I was working out, I encountered a groin injury.
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12:00 - 09.10.2023
ATHLETICS Game recognises game!! Ferdinand Omanyala's inspiring message to Kelvin Kiptum after his feat in Chicago
Kelvin Kiptum broke the marathon world record and Ferdinand Omanyala has shared an inspiring message to him after his exploits.
I could not withdraw and I decided to put on my spikes and I knew everybody was waiting for the 100m. Gatlin was warming up on the other side and Bromell was also doing his thing.
When the gun went off, I never had the quickest starts but as I approached the finish line, I didn’t feel the pain and I decided to give it my all,” he said.
In that race, Bromell crossed the finish line first in 9.76 as Omanyala shattered the Akani Simbine’s African record time, clocking 9.77 to cross the finish line second.
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