Mark Otieno offers Omanyala shoulder to lean on after Budapest disaster

© Eric Barasa

Mark Otieno offers Omanyala shoulder to lean on after Budapest disaster

Abigael Wafula 16:00 - 21.08.2023

He, unfortunately, fizzled out to finish a disappointing seventh and cross the finish line in 10.01.

When eight athletes lined up for the men’s 100m final race in Budapest, Hungary, all eyes were on Africa’s fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala to make history but things did not go as planned.

He, unfortunately, fizzled out to finish a disappointing seventh and cross the finish line in 10.01. Omanyala’s performance on the global stage has been met with different reactions with some arguing that he did not do well while others lauded him for reaching the final of the event.

One particular person who offered Omanyala a shoulder to lean on was Olympian Mark Otieno. Otieno lauded Omanyala for defying the odds, and despite him not finishing in the podium bracket, he still made history by becoming the first Kenyan to reach the final of the global showpiece.

Otieno posted on his Twitter account saying: “There have been a lot of great performances at Budapest 2023 from our fellow countrymen and women, but what's most impressive is how Ferdinand Omanyala keeps defying the odds. Congratulations on reaching the finals, let's keep pushing our own boundaries like never before!”

© Ferdinand Omanyala

Omanyala had started off his campaign on a high, finishing second behind World 200m champion Noah Lyles in the preliminary round. He then finished third in the semi-final to narrowly secure a slot in the final where things went sour.

Meanwhile, on the same night, Omanyala failed to impress, Africa was still happy because 20-year-old Letsile Tebogo of Botswana made history after becoming the first African to win a medal at the global showpiece.

Tebogo finished second in 9.88 behind Lyles who clocked 9.83. Great Britain’s Zharnel Hughes completed the podium in 9.88.