Ferdinand Omanyala: I Will Not Fill The Heats Like In Tokyo, I’m In Paris As A Top Contender To The Throne

_{African Record Holder Ferdinand Omanyala and Commonwealth Games champion Ferdinand Omanyala trains in Miramas, France ahead of Paris 2024 Olympics. PHOTO/ NOCK}

PARIS, France- African Record Holder Ferdinand Omanyala is very happy with his progress in 100m towards the Paris 2024 Olympics Games that are around the corner.

His every detail and plan are falling into place after he changed his tactician, training schedules, team and partners at the start of the year.

This was evident in his sixth race of the season in Hengelo, Netherlands ten days ago where he cut the tape in 10.01 to beat championship favorites like Ronnie Baker of the USA and Ander de Grasse of Canada who came second and third in that order.

The Hengelo race provided Omanyala with insights on what to work on at Kenya’s pre-Olympics training camp in Miramas, France which he has joined.

To him, building power in his last 50m will be key for the Olympics. His intention is to have an amazing finishing kick because the star-studded Paris Olympics men’s 100m race will be won in the last 20m, according to his review.

“My body has picked up the season well. I’m running commendable times which correspond with my progress in the season.

“My starting blocks are good, but I have an acceleration problem at the 70m, this is due to the massive muscles I was building in the gym. So, I have opted to cut down the weights and this has eased my speeding. So, I can feel my body is in shape for the Olympics,” Omanyala told sportsdesk.co.ke.

Apart from working on his finishing power, the father of two believes the Miramas camp gives him time to remove other looming cobwebs in his muscles and his aim is to sharpen himself in such a way that he will be invincible to his rivals in the Paris showdown.

“In Tokyo three years ago, my purpose was just to fill up the heats, but I’m well convinced I’m headed to Paris as a top contender. The target is to go beyond the semis I reached in Japan but we are not promising much. I predict that my performance in Paris will be better because I’m heading to the Olympics as the second-best placed athlete in the world this season,” he underlined.

However, the 60m dash National Record Holder reiterated that he is not downplaying his semifinal finish in Tokyo as that performance opened endless doors which have impacted his Paris Olympics preparations in the positive.

” I have gotten lots of opportunities that have pushed me forward in this long journey. There have been lots of changes and learning processes which have shaped and taken me to where I’m now,” he said.

Though putting in the works, the Commonwealth Games champion known for his boisterous talks, is not promising much ahead of the Paris Olympics. His current pledges are so well calculated and within reasonable limits.

“I’m optimistic about Paris but I’m also very careful with my intentions. I don’t want to over promise my fans things. I’m dealing with reality on the ground. No living in the utopia,” he stated adding that, “To my fans, there are expectations in Paris, but I’m managing it. I just don’t want to promise heaven that will make my delivery very tricky, but I’m telling you to have hopes.”

Omanyala believes the Paris men’s 100m showdown will be stiff as everyone will be out for a podium finish, just like him.

“It will not be a walk in the park, but I have manageable expectations. It will be tough and that’s why I’m also training hard so as to be tougher.”.

Does he feel any pressure ahead of Paris?

“No pressure at all, even from fans. I have only set limits to carry me forward in the journey. After every race, I call myself to a meeting, do self-analysis and recommendations for myself. It is this self-analysis that drove me to change my coach, training tactics and even partners and teams at the start of the season.

” As an athlete, you should be able to ask yourself if you are headed to where you intend to reach or you just want to be comfortable with what you have, it’s this passion and the desire that drove me to make the changes. I’m glad the results are positive,” he highlighted.

As an athlete, what fires Omanyala to keep on improving are two factors; discipline and the hunger to excel.

In his journey towards athletics stardom, Omanyala is getting so many accolades but, however, he is careful not to let the achievements sway his focus for the prize.

“After Tokyo, I went ahead to become the African champion, the African Record Holder (9.77) and the Commonwealth Games champion. I try to move forward every day because in this industry, you are as good as your last race, so we aim better.”

When asked why he chose not to take part in so many races this season unlike before, Omanyala explained: ” It’s part of the resolution I made early this year. Kip Keino Classic was my season opener, now I have done six.

“Last year at a time like this I had done 19 races in total. So, we are doing things differently this season in order not to get burnt out before the Olympics.

“Kip Keino was all about getting into the competition mode, understanding my body and shaping up towards the Olympics.”

In his other races this year, Omanyala broke the national record twice at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow, Scotland and recorded a season’s best of 9.79 at the Paris Olympics national trials at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi.

Ferdinand Omanyala Selected Accolades

– African Record Holder (9.77)

– Commonwealth Games champion

– 60m National Record Holder