Ferdinand Omanyala, Africa's fastest man in the 100 meters, is celebrating after ending the season as the world's second-fastest sprinter. In a statement on Sunday, Omanyala credited his achievement to the relentless hard work he puts in daily, emphasizing that his success wouldn't have been possible without the unwavering support of his family, team, sponsors, and fans.
Reflecting on his impressive time of 9.79 seconds, Omanyala expressed gratitude for those who backed him throughout the season. "What a season it has been, wrapping it up ranked the 2nd fastest man in the world with a time of 9.79 – a testament to the hard work, dedication, and resilience we put in day in and day out. I couldn’t have done it without the support of my family, my coach, my manager, my sponsors, and all the fans! Let’s keep chasing greatness!" he wrote on X.
Omanyala's 2024 season had its share of ups and downs. After his victory in the men’s 100m invitational in Brussels, he admitted that the season didn’t unfold as he had hoped but vowed to keep pushing forward. His season was hindered by his inability to participate in the Diamond League due to a prior 2017 ban by the Athletics Integrity Unit, which prevented him from accumulating enough points to qualify for the finals.
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The ban, which lasted 14 months, was imposed after Omanyala tested positive for betamethasone, a banned substance. He explained that he had been undergoing treatment for a back injury sustained during training at the time of the violation. Despite these setbacks, Omanyala continues to strive for greatness in his athletic journey.
