Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, has opted against taking part in a key World Athletics calendar event.
Ferdinand Omanyala, Africa’s fastest man and the reigning Commonwealth Games 100m champion, has made a strategic decision to forgo the 2025 World Indoor Championships.
The decision, confirmed by Omanyala and his camp via Nation, is part of a broader plan to ensure a successful 2025 campaign, particularly as he eyes the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this September.
“What we said after the season ended last year is to give ourselves some time with no pressure… we are not going for the indoor and we shall focus more on outdoor this time around,” Omanyala stated as per Nation.
The Kenyan sprinter had an impressive indoor season in 2024, where he shattered his national 60m record by clocking 6.51 seconds at the Paris Indoor Tour.
Ferdinand Omanyala has revealed his ultimate vision for sprinting in Kenya six months after nonchallantly obliterating Mark Otieno and Co at the Paris 2024 Olympic trials.
Prior to that, he had also won in Miramas, setting a then-national record of 6.52 seconds.
However, in 2025, Omanyala is taking a different approach, delaying his season opener compared to last year.
“We have no tangible plans yet since we haven’t had any contacts with most race organizers, but we are training well, sessions that are even well captured on my social media platforms,” Omanyala added.
While his rivals, including Noah Lyles and Kishane Thompson, have already kicked off their indoor campaigns—Lyles recently clocking 6.52 seconds to win the New Balance Grand Prix and Thompson recording 6.56 seconds at the Astana Indoor Meet—Omanyala is pacing himself.
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Inspired by Ferdinand Omanyala, the Kenyan hurdler is keen to knock Olympics champion Masai Russell off her perch, after securing a US scholarship.
Omanyala’s first race of the season is set for mid-March in South Africa.
Reflecting on his Paris Olympics campaign, where he exited in the 100m semi-finals, Omanyala acknowledged the importance of continuous competition and adaptation.
“Competition is something that makes you not be comfortable because at some point I thought I am sitting at the top of the world but failed to reach the final at the Paris Olympics,” he admitted.
With his eyes firmly set on Tokyo, Omanyala is embracing a patient and pressure-free approach.
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Ferdinand Omanyala has a chance to bounce back from his rough 2024 season at the 2025 World Championships but he faces a delicate balancing act as it could be a make-or-break year.
“The Tokyo worlds are a bit far, and I shall focus on a day at a time without any pressure for the next competition.”
It remains to be seen whether this strategic decision will give Omanyala the edge he needs when he finally lines up against Lyles, Thompson, and other top sprinters later in the season.
