'I thought I was on top of the world' – Ferdinand Omanyala admits being humbled after missing out on medals

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'I thought I was on top of the world' – Ferdinand Omanyala admits being humbled after missing out on medals

Festus Chuma 16:33 - 03.10.2024

Africa's fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala has opened up about recent setbacks, revealing how they have humbled him and reshaped his focus.

Commonwealth Games 100m champion Ferdinand Omanyala has opened up about his recent struggles on the track, admitting that his failure to medal at both the Paris Olympic Games and last year’s World Athletics Championships has been a sobering experience that forced him to reassess his approach to the sport.

After a stellar 2022 season that saw him become Africa’s fastest man, Omanyala seemed destined for glory on the biggest stages.

However, disappointment struck in back-to-back events, leaving the sprinter with no choice but to confront the reality of fierce competition at the highest levels.

“Competition is something that makes you not be comfortable because at some point I thought I was sitting at the top of the world but failed to reach the final at the Paris Olympics,” Omanyala candidly admitted as per Nation.

The 28-year-old athlete reflected on the tough lessons he has learned over the past two seasons, lessons that have humbled him and underscored the need for constant improvement.

Omanyala, who ran a blistering world-leading time of 9.79 seconds at the Kenyan National trials for the Paris Olympics, was expected to be a serious contender for a medal in the men’s 100m.

However, the sprinter’s Olympic dreams were dashed when he placed a disappointing eighth in his semifinal heat, failing to advance to the final.

His underwhelming performance came after another painful setback at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest last year, where he finished seventh in the 100m final, despite being among the favorites for gold. The race was ultimately won by American star Noah Lyles.

“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,” said Omanyala, during the launch of Athletics Kenya’s (AK’s) 2024/2025 calendar of events dubbed Road to Tokyo.

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Omanyala, who made history earlier in 2023 as the first Kenyan to win a 100m race at the Diamond League in Monaco, acknowledged that even with great success, complacency can creep in.

The experience of the last two years has brought him back down to earth, reminding him that there is always more work to be done.

“Any mistake can be costly,” Omanyala continued.

“The 2024 was yet another season of learning… we learn every day, in our jobs, schools, and generally in life. We shall never stop learning.”

Despite the challenges, the sprinter remains resolute in his determination to bounce back.

Omanyala stated that his primary focus for the upcoming season will be the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, an event that he sees as a fresh opportunity to reclaim his spot among the elite of the sprinting world.

Omanyala shared that he is currently taking a six-week break from training to focus on personal matters, including the development of his Omanyala Foundation.

The sprinter is using this time to reset both physically and mentally, as he prepares to unveil his 2024 program in January.