Ferdinand Omanyala has revealed his balanced approach to sprinting rivalries as he also shared his strong bond with Letsile Tebogo, Noah Lyles, Akani Simbine and others.
Ferdinand Omanyala has opened up about the kind of relationship he shares with his sprinting rivals including Letsile Tebogo, Akani Simbine and Noah Lyles among others.
Africa’s fastest man revealed that he shares a strong bond with his African brothers, Simbine and Tebogo and noted that he speaks to the latter more often.
Omanyala disclosed that with the other sprinters including Noah Lyles, Marcell Jacobs and Christian Coleman, he tries to maintain conversations but it also depends on their willingness to speak to him since he cannot be the one ‘forcing issues.’ He, however, tries to maintain a friendly environment to all his competitors.
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“We have a very good relationship and we talk from time to time, especially Tebogo. I look at Tebogo as my brother and I call him school boy and he likes that,” Ferdinand Omanyala said in a past interview.
“We talk and it’s not just with them alone because I’m friendly to all these athletes because I respect their strength and courage to just line up on the starting line for me.
“I talk to those who are willing to talk to me of course but we speak a lot and we have conversations encouraging each other. When we get to the track, it’s business, there is a rivalry.”
Omanyala added that their rivalry does not go beyond the track since they will need each other in the near future especially after they retire.
He revealed that it’s always serious business once they step on the track since running is their career and they have to take everything seriously and bring no remorse there.
However, after races, Ferdinand Omanyala admitted that he embraces his competitors and tries to maintain a great relationship as he eyes days after retirement.
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The three-time world champion insists that Elaine Thompson-Herah and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce still have plenty more to offer the world.
“That is what people see on the cameras and think that’s how we relate to each other but that’s business. We are working and doing this for ourselves so there is no way I will laugh with them when we get to track because it’s our job,” Omanyala revealed.
“It’s better that I take you out on the track but after that, we are good, it’s a sport and we are not going to be doing this forever, this is a sport and when we are out, some will go into management and coaching.
“There is no need to take the rivalry seriously, it goes beyond track and at some point, we shall need each other. It’s a connection that we are building.”
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