Ferdinand Omanyala, who clocked the third time in the world’s statistics this season in the 100 meters, went on his way to the World Championships in Oregon, even though he had already announced that he would miss the games.
The World Athletics Championships are shown on channels. You can find live broadcasts, highlights, the competition schedule, interesting news and topics on ‘s competition page.
The World Athletics Championships in Oregon start on Friday, but with the fastest man in Africa Ferdinand Omanyalla has been busy already in his home country of Kenya.
On Wednesday, a representative of the sprinter said, according to Reuters, that Omanya has not received a visa to fly to the United States.
On Thursday, Omanyala had already given up hope of making it there.
– Even if I get a visa today, it’s too late, the 26-year-old Kenyan speedster lamented, according to news agency AFP.
AFP reported that the journey from Kenya to the competition site in Eugene takes 24 hours or even more. Omanyala stated that it is simply not possible to make it to the World Championships.
– There is nothing I could do. This has been my longest day of waiting and I don’t like waiting, he lamented.
You should arrive a few hours before the heats
However, Omanyala had given up too soon. On Thursday, coach Duncan Ayiemba reported that Omanya had been invited by the Kenyan Ministry of Sports, who obtained a visa for him at the last minute.
Ayiemban said his protégé is rushing to board the flight. Omanyala should receive this information in Oregon on Friday morning. In addition, the runner should be able to cope with the time difference and travel stress to get in race condition.
– He will have a few hours to rest before the heats of 100 meters. I hope he gets to the semi-finals and the final, Ayiemba said.
The men’s 100m preliminaries will be run early on Saturday at 4:50 a.m. Finnish time. The semi-finals and the final are on the program the next day, i.e. early Sunday, Finnish time.
– The moment I get there, everything is forgotten. Gotta run, no matter how tired. There are challenges in life, but you have to face them head on, Omanyala painted For BBC Sport Africa (you are switching to another service).
According to the BBC, Omanyala set off on Thursday at 18:00 Kenyan time, and should arrive at the venues less than three hours before the men’s 100m heats.
Omanyala needs time to sort out customs obligations, take care of her competition accreditation, and exercise would also be necessary after a long journey.
According to the BBC, the Kenyan federation has discussed with the race organizers the possibility of organizing a solo run for Omanyala, if he does not make it to his heat.
In addition to Kenyans, at least Nigerian and Ethiopian athletes have had visa problems. The International Association of Athletics Federations WA, the race organizers in Oregon and the US Olympic Committee said they were aware of the visa problems and stated that the reason for them was the travel challenges caused by the corona pandemic.
– No one can be blamed for this. It’s just about how the system works, Omanyala himself acknowledged.
After the doping scandal, a huge rise to the top of the world
Ferdinand Omanyala’s development has been amazing. Last fall, at the international competitions in Nairobi, he ran 100 meters with an African record time of 9.77. In that time, Omanya is the ninth fastest of all time in the world.
He had broken the ten-second mark for the first time just over a month earlier. Even the previous year, i.e. 2020, Omanyala’s record was 10.32. Because of that, he was ranked 120th in the world statistics for the season, when, for example, Finland Samuli Samuelsson was ahead with a time of 10.28.
Omanyala started athletics in 2016, previously she had played rugby. Already in his first athletics season, the man clocked a time of 10.38, but was banned from competition the following season after taking betamethasone.
Omanyala said that she used painkillers containing steroids to relieve her back pain. He suffered a 14-month suspension and returned to the tracks in the 2019 season.
After running the African record last fall, Omanyala admitted to the BBC (switching to another service), that the past overshadows his prime. He commented that he was a “victim of circumstances” because, according to his story, he did not know that the painkiller contained a prohibited substance.
– It has been tough, but the past is the past. We forgive, forget and move on. I’m the kind of person who lives in the moment. Since 2016, it’s been a tough journey – injuries and then suspension – but all that is in the past. We create the future.
Is Bolt’s ME in danger?
Omanyala said she dreams of breaking 9.70. They have only been able to do that Usain Bolt (world record 9.58), Tyson Gay and John Blake. The runner himself said that “the possibilities are endless” and that even Bolt’s ME time could be at risk.
– I believe that nothing is impossible. The world record is no exception. I believe that if anyone can break the record, it will be me, Omanyala your threat to the BBC (you will switch to another service) in March of this year.
Omanyala has also said that she dreams of being able to raise the level of sprinting in Kenya and Africa. He has said that he sees a lot of talented runners in his home country in football and rugby, but they are not enthusiastic about sprinting, because success in the country’s athletics has traditionally come from longer distances.
According to Omanyala, the children’s parents also do not encourage quick trips, because they do not believe that success could be possible.
– The world sees Africa’s track and field athletes as endurance runners, but we already have javelin throwers, jumpers and sprinters, so I think we have already shown that we have talent for other things as well.
This season the USA Fred Kerley has run 9.76 and his countryman Trayvon Bromell 9.81. Oman is ranked third in the world after running 9.85 in May.
At the Olympics last summer, Oman narrowly missed out on the finals. He ran 10.00 in the semi-final – also a Kenyan record.
Based on the statistics, Omanya would now be one of the 100 meter medal favorites. First, however, you have to get to the race venue.
The World Athletics Championships will be shown on channels. You can find live broadcasts, highlights, the competition schedule, interesting news and topics on ‘s competition page.
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