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Omanyala reveals reason for competing in Uganda’s third national athletics trials
Reading Time: 3min | Fri. 04.04.25. | 13:20
The last time he competed in Uganda was in 2017, a year when his career faced a major hurdle
Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, made a triumphant return to Uganda on Saturday, 29 March.
His comeback was with a bang, dominating the third national athletics trials by winning the 100m in 10.02 seconds and leading the 4x100m relay team to victory.
However, beyond the wins, Omanyala had a deeper reason for his participation.
In an exclusive interview with Mozzart Sport, Omanyala revealed that competing in Uganda was a personal journey and a mission to develop sprinting talent in the region.
The last time he competed in Uganda was in 2017, a year when his career faced a major hurdle.
He served a 14-month doping ban after testing positive for a banned substance, which he attributed to a painkiller he took. His resilience in bouncing back from that setback to become the ninth-fastest man of all time has been an inspiration to many.
It is this inspiration that drives him to give back to the country and East Africa in general.
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"I came because we want to do something in Uganda for the sprinters. I am also connecting with my past. I was here in 2017 when I started, and it feels good to come back to where people love me," he shared.
Beyond his success, Omanyala is focused on using his experience to guide the younger generation of sprinters. He is doing that through the Omanyala Foundation, which is dedicated to identifying and nurturing athletic talent.
The foundation’s formation was fueled by the belief that every budding sprinter deserves the chance to soar to greater heights.
"I am looking forward to building East Africa through the Omanyala Foundation, focusing on nurturing talent. The main goal of the foundation is to develop sprinters, and I aim to identify the best in track, as well as those who are disciplined and dedicated to learning.
When I eventually retire, I hope to leave behind a legacy, with others continuing the work and carrying the torch forward," he explained.
The foundation operates on three key pillars: developing sprinting talent in Kenya and Africa, addressing climate change, and using sports to promote good health.
While in Uganda, Omanyala also had high praise for the newly refurbished Namboole Stadium, which he believes is world-class.
"This facility is great. This stadium is up to standard. I have traveled across the world, and I have seen stadiums, so when I say it is good, it is good.
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I think you guys (Ugandans) should bid to host a championship because the state-of-the-art stadium is very good," he remarked.
Omanyala is a perfect reflection of how a rejection can quickly turn into the fundamental cornerstone needed to build the most prized of assets.
He overcame the ban to go down in history as the first 100-meter Kenyan athlete to qualify for the prestigious Olympic Games in Tokyo.
A year later, after the milestone achievement, he set the African 100-meter record, clinching the African crown and winning the Commonwealth Games, all in a sparkling 2022 performance.
His achievements read like a book, but most importantly, he is the only sprinter who represented Kenya at the Paris Olympics, where he was also the flag bearer.
