Elated Omanyala vows not to disappoint legend, Michael Johnson in World Athletics Championship
By Dennis Mabuka, July 28, 2023Kenyan sprinter Ferdinand Omanyala has concurred with American athletics legend Michael Johnson that he would soon win a gold medal in the 100m race at the World Athletics Championship.
On Wednesday, the 55-year-old Johnson, who is the former World 100m and 200m record holder, tipped the Kenyan sensation to become the first African to win the short race insisting he had what it takes to conquer the world.
“Said it before. I believe Omanyala will be the first African to win a 100m World Championship medal,” claimed Johnson on his social media pages, adding: “His muscular structure provides tremendous power but do any coaches or sport science experts out there think it could become a limiting factor in his ability to sprint efficiently?”
The 27-year-old Omanyala has responded to Johnson’s statement by confidently saying he could reach the landmark during the World Athletics championship set for Budapest, Hungary from August 19 to 27.
He saw it in April and it’s what is coming,” Omanyala said as quoted by a local daily, adding: “When legends see that, it means it is coming to Africa, I see gold.”
Omanyala, who has currently pitched camp at Team Kenya’s pre-Olympics training base in Miramas, France in preparation for the World Championships, however, differed with, Johnson, who retired after winning four Olympic gold medals and eight World Championship gold medals in the span of his career; on his body physique insisting he was more toned.
“I’ve had these muscles since 2016, I ran 9.77 seconds at 87 kilogrammes and I am now 84kgs, I am more toned because I reduced heavy lifting in the gym for the smaller weights.”
Omanyala’s star has risen in the past year with his best performance this season being his win at the Diamond League in Monaco and in doing so, became the first Kenyan to win a 100m race in the Diamond League.
Omanyala, who is also the African champion and record holder (9.77 seconds) over the distance, clocked 9.92 seconds in Monaco to narrowly beat world U20 champion Letsile Tebogo of Botswana to second place in a tightly contested race.
At the World Championship, Omanyala will face stiff competition from the American quartet of Fred Kerley, Cravont Charleston, Christian Coleman, and Noah Lyles.