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| Ferdinand Omanyala |
Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, recently discussed his ambitions for sprinting in Kenya. The East African nation has dominated middle and long-distance athletics for six decades but has lagged in short distances, especially the 100m. In a short time, Omanyala has broken many barriers and records in Kenya and Africa, becoming an inspiration for many sprinters in the country. Ferdinand Omanyala is aiming to leave a mark at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The 28-year-old has won the Commonwealth and African titles and set the ninth-fastest 100m time (9.77 seconds) ever. He has yet to win a world or Olympic medal, but he hopes to do so in the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics. Omanyala participated in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics but didn’t do well. He reached the semi-final but was unable to progress further, per World Athletics. Omanyala on Kenya’s sprinting problem Omanyala is passionate about sprinting in Kenya and wants to make an impact in his country despite the many challenges. “I want to change everything about sprints in this country,” he said via Sports Eye Sports. “Not that we don’t have the talent. The talent is there because we are very good at rugby. The only thing that we did not have is that strong mentality that ‘you can do this.’ That’s the ceiling that was hindering so many people from doing it.” The 100m field for the Paris Olympics is stacked, and Omanyala will have to be on top of his game to reach the podium. Noah Lyles, world champion; Letsile Tebogo, world silver medalist; Kishane Thompson, the fastest man in 2024; and Jamaica’s Oblique Seville are serious contenders to win. No African has won an Olympic gold medal in sprinting, and Namibia’s Freddie Fredericks was the last African to earn a podium place in 1996
by Edwin Kiplagat