'I hope Kenya gets out of that situation' — Ferdinand Omanyala's ultimate vision for sprinting in Kenya

In a country long revered for its dominance in middle and long-distance running, has emerged as a trailblazer, reshaping Kenya’s athletic narrative with his blistering speed. 

Since his record-breaking 9.77-second sprint at the 2021 Kip Keino Classic, Omanyala has not only become Africa’s fastest man but has also sparked a sprinting revolution in Kenya.

His meteoric rise from a former rugby winger to the nation’s premier sprinter has been nothing short of extraordinary.

Ferdinand Omanyala has emerged as one of Africa's finest sprinters and this article will delve into more things you might not know about him off the track.

 Winning gold at the Commonwealth Games and reaching the final at the 2023 World Athletics Championships, Omanyala has cemented his place among track and field’s elite.

Yet, despite his individual success, Omanyala remains deeply concerned about the state of sprinting in Kenya. 

Speaking on hisduring the build-up to the 2024 Paris Olympics where he ran a world leading 9-79 seconds, he addressed the glaring gap between himself and his compatriots.

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“I remember there was a picture circulating, and the gap was so big,” he remarked. “I’m hoping Kenya will get out of that situation at some point and reach a level where we are competitive and have more than one sprinter.”

His ultimate dream? To see Kenyan sprinters push each other to greater heights. “I want a situation where I can’t even tell if I’m going to win,” he added.

Omanyala is not just talking about change—he’s taking action. In a separate interview on Justin Gatlin’spodcast, he revealed his plans for the Omanyala Foundation, an academy dedicated to nurturing Kenya’s next generation of sprinters with the help of his coach George Kimani.

“I know the way, I know how it’s done, and I want to show them that this is the way to go,” he stated.

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According to Omanyala, the raw talent is already there. “Last year (2023), we had 27 heats in the 100m at one of the meets, and previously, we only had four or five. That means these guys believe they can do it. We just have to give them better conditions.”

With his foundation in motion and an unrelenting drive to inspire, Omanyala is leading the charge for a new era of Kenyan sprinting—one where he’s no longer standing alone.