Warning to Noah Lyles and Co? Ferdinand Omanyala shares how laidback approach has kept him in peak condition

Photo credit || Ferdinand Omanyala X

Warning to Noah Lyles and Co? Ferdinand Omanyala shares how laidback approach has kept him in peak condition

Joel Omotto 15:10 - 02.07.2024

Ferdinand Omanyala has revealed how his measured approach seems to be working for him as he bids for success at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Africa’s fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala has shared how his decision to choose carefully the moments to peak is working in his favour ahead of the Paris Olympics.

Omanyala has been more measured in his approach and words this season, choosing to participate in fewer events while promising much less, after the experience of last season when he promised so much but ended up disappointed at the World Championships.

He feels his subdued approach has taken pressure off him somewhat and he can now concentrate fully of his preparations.

“It’s not all about winning but about how humble you are, that is the biggest lesson I have learnt. I understand there is pressure coming in especially as we go into the Olympics there are a lot of expectations,” Omanyala told Olympics KE.

“But this year, I am not giving any targets, I am not promising anybody anything. I know everybody wants to hear something from Omanyala like what do you want to win or get at the Olympics but this time, let us handle it race as it comes.

“Let us go through the heats, you cannot be planning about semis and you are not through the heats. Let’s get through the heats, semis and if we get to the finals, anything can happen.”

Omanyala has only participated in two events out of the country in the 100m race, the Prefontaine Classic, when he notched his first sub-10 seconds of the season of 9.98 for second place as well as the Racers Grand Prix in Jamaica when he managed 10.02.

That was after clocking 10.03 for fifth place at Kip Keino Classic in April but he showed that he is in good frame for the Olympics with a world leading time of 9.79 at the Athletics Kenya Olympics trials last month.

The 28-year-old says his new coach Geoffrey Kimani has worked on an elaborate programme to ensure he peaks when it matters most unlike previous seasons when he ran faster early in the campaign but failed at major championships.

“It has been more like learning. I had not done this approach since I started. When I started working with Kim [Kimani], it was a different approach this year and during the indoor season, we ran two national records which means I peaked during that time and we could not peak again during the midseason and again during the Olympics,” he added.

“Our bodies can’t peak three times in a year so we have to maintain it and make sure we peak when it matters. I am happy because this year, we got it right because the last two seasons, I have been running too fast in March and April and during the championships you are struggling to run the times you should be running.”

It is a form that is even giving his coach confidence of good prospects in Paris.

“If you are going to Miramas in that kind of form, it is just a matter of touchups because the pressure is not there,” Kimani said.

Omanyala currently has the world’s second fastest time after Jamaican Kishane Thompson ran 9.77 at the Olympics trials last week with his compatriot Oblique Seville has 9.82 and world champion and favourite Noah Lyles with 9.83.

It is a good company to be in for Omanyala with the Olympics now just over three weeks away.

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