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Ferdinand Omanyala is a Kenyan track and field athlete who specialises in the 60-metre, 100-metre, and 200-metre sprints. Find out more information about him here.
Kenya is famous for dominating the long distances in athletics, but Omanyala broke the norm and is making a name for himself in the short distances.
Ferdinand Omanyala Background (Who is Ferdinand Omanyala?)
Ironically, Omanyala's journey began in another sport (rugby), but his speed was evident long before he stepped onto a rugby pitch. In fact, it was during his childhood, while running errands, that the Kenyan sprinter first showcased his natural talent for blistering pace.
Omanyala's mother, Adelaide Omurwa, recalls how fast he used to run whenever she sent him on an errand.
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However, his athletic career began unexpectedly in 2015, while studying chemistry at the University of Nairobi, when a friend noticed his exceptional speed while playing rugby, and encouraged him to try track and field.
It was a decision that would change his life, as within weeks of taking up the sport, Omanyala clocked an impressive 10.4 seconds in his first race.
He also won the national Olympics trials over the 100 metres distance in the same year, clocking a time of 10.37s, but never met the qualifying standard for the Olympics, which was 10.16s.
Despite early success, Omanyala faced setbacks, as a doping ban in 2017 halted his progress, but he persevered.
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However, Omanyala's return to the track ignited a meteoric rise, resulting in his historic achievement as the fastest African man ever.
He clinched the African 100m title in June 2022. However, he could not replicate this at the World Championship, as visa issues forced him to arrive in Eugene just hours before his first heat, ultimately leading to his elimination in the semifinals.
The Kenyan sprinter redeemed himself in August by securing his country's first-ever Commonwealth Games gold medal in the 100m, a historic victory that ended a 60-year drought for Kenya in the event.
How old is Ferdinand Omanyala? (Ferdinand Omanyala age)
Ferdinand Omanyala was born on January 2, 1996, making him 28 years old as of July 2024.
Where is Ferdinand Omanyala from?
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Ferdinand Omanyala is from Kenya, and he represents the East African country in athletics. Kenya had only produced one African 100m champion before Omanyala, and that was Joseph Gikonyo in 1990.
Where was Ferdinand Omanyala born?
Ferdinand Omanyala was born in Hamisi, Kenya. While he was born in Hamisi, his family later relocated to Tongaren, also in Kenya, where he spent a significant part of his upbringing.
Hamisi is home to the Tiriki subtribe of the Abaluyia, and is one of five constituencies in Vihiga County.
How tall is Ferdinand Omanyala? (Ferdinand Omanyala Height)
Ferdinand Omanyala is 5 feet 9 inches tall (175 cm) and has an athletic build that could be traced back to his rugby background.
How much does Ferdinand Omanyala weigh? (Ferdinand Omanyala Weight)
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Ferdinand Omanyala weighs approximately 82 kilogrammes (181 pounds), but a major part of his weight is muscle, which he built over the years, right from his days as a rugby player.
Ferdinand Omanyala 100m record (Ferdinand Omanyala personal best)
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Ferdinand Omanyala set a national record of 10.01 seconds in the 100 metres, during a meeting at the Yabatech Sport Complex in Lagos, Nigeria, in March 2021.
The Kenyan sprinter did not rest on his laurels, as he raised the bar to 10.00 seconds at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics 100 metres semi-final in August, finishing 0.04 seconds behind eventual silver medalist Fred Kerley and 0.02 seconds behind eventual bronze medalist Andre De Grasse.
In the same month, Omanyala shattered the 10-second barrier with a new personal best of 9.86 seconds in Austria, becoming the first Kenyan ever to achieve this feat.
Omanyala was not finished, as he raised the bar again, setting a new African record of 9.77 seconds (+1.2 m/s) at the Absa Kip Keino Classic held in Nairobi, Kenya, a month later, finishing behind Trayvon Bromell, who ran a world leading 9.76 seconds.
Ferdinand Omanyala Olympics
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Ferdinand Omanyala made his Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games, but he failed to advance to the finals.
Despite not medaling in Tokyo, Omanyala's participation was a significant moment for Kenya in the sprint.
Expectations are, however, high for him to deliver a podium finish in the Paris 2024 Olympics and inspire a new generation of Kenyan sprinters.
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However, he failed to make it beyond the semifinals at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, finishing eighth with a 10.08 time in his semifinal heat.
Ferdinand Omanyala Coach
Ferdinand Omanyala's coaching team has undergone a significant change in recent years. He was previously coached by Duncan Ayiemba, before making a pivotal decision to switch to Geoffrey Kimani.
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The change came after a period of inconsistent performance, and Omanyala felf that Kimani, a former sprinter himself, would help him achieve the required consistency through his fresh perspective and rigorous training regimen.
Under his guidance, Omanyala has a renewed focus on both physical conditioning and mental preparation.
Ferdinand Omanyala Wife
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Ferdinand Omanyala is married to Laventa Amutavi, and the couple has been together for several years.
Amutavi, a social worker by profession, has been a constant source of support for Omanyala throughout his athletic career.
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The couple's relationship has blossomed, and they have a son together, named Quinton Omanyala, who Omanyala has predicted could become a sprinter just like him.
Ferdinand Omanyala Net Worth
Ferdinand Omanyala's net worth was estimated to be around Ksh 700 million ($5 million) by various sources last year. However, the sprinter came out to refute the claim, stating it was a lie while holding back on his real worth.
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Omanyala has done well for himself, winning several prize monies, while he is also officially sponsored by Odibets, a Kenyan sports betting company.
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He also has a multi-million deal with Adidas, a deal with phone maker OPPO, and an ambassadorial deal with Toyota.
Ferdinand Omanyala Social media
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Ferdinand Omanyala has active accounts on Instagram, Twitter (X), and Facebook.
His Instagram account has close to 320,000 followers as of July 2024, while his X account has over 104,000 followers, and over 387,000 followers on Facebook.
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