Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka has encouraged Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, to stay proud despite missing out on the Olympic finals in Paris.
Kalonzo praised Omanyala as an inspiring figure both in Kenya and globally. “Ferdinand Omanyala, hold your head high. You are an inspiration to millions not just in Kenya but across Africa and the world,” he said.
The former Vice President expressed his confidence that Omanyala will have his moment on the world stage. “I am confident that your time will come, and we will proudly sing our cherished National Anthem while you display the coveted 100m Gold Medal,” he added.
Omanyala’s bid to become the first Kenyan to reach the Olympics 100m final faced a setback on Sunday, as he finished eighth in the semi-final with a time of 10.08 seconds. He had previously finished first in his heat, securing his place in the semi-final.
In the Paris Games, Omanyala led Heat 2 with a 10.08 finish, ahead of Italy’s Chituru Ali (10.12) and Germany’s Joshua Hartmann (10.16). At the Tokyo Olympics, Omanyala was eliminated after placing third in semifinal 1 with a time of 10.00 seconds.
Reflecting on his journey, Omanyala noted his growth over the past three years, including winning Commonwealth and African titles and several Diamond League races. “So many things have happened in the last three years. Three years is a long time for an athlete to evolve,” he said, maintaining optimism for future success.
