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Omanyala's brother eyeing glory at World University Games
Reading Time: 3min | Thu. 17.07.25. | 17:46
Omurwa was the youngest athlete on Team Kenya during the World Athletics Relays in May, where he gained invaluable experience competing alongside elite runners
Ferdinand Omanyala’s younger brother, Isaac Omurwa, is ready to make his mark on the global stage as he gears up for the FISU World University Games in Germany.
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Scheduled from Monday, 21 to Friday, 25 July, the competition brings together student-athletes from around the world, and Omurwa is determined to be more than just a participant. He is aiming for a podium finish.
Omurwa was the youngest athlete on Team Kenya during the World Athletics Relays in May, where he gained invaluable experience competing alongside elite runners.
Now, with eyes firmly set on individual glory, the sprinter believes he has what it takes to fly the Kenyan flag high.
“It feels good to represent my country while I’m still young. But still, I’m not that young, I look up to guys like Bayanda Walaza who are even younger and already doing big things. So really, age is just a number,” Omurwa told Mozzart Sport.
South Africa’s Bayanda Walaza recently clocked a lightning-fast 9.99 seconds, making him the joint fifth-fastest junior of all time, and a key source of inspiration for Omurwa, who is chasing both time and legacy.
“For these Games, I’ve not come to participate but to compete for a podium finish. I’ll give my best and hope my best is the best overall,” he revealed.
Behind his ambitions is a disciplined routine balancing both sport and academics. A university student himself, Omurwa credits his coach, Geoffrey Kimani, for creating a training schedule that respects classroom commitments.
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“Balancing sports and academics is about giving everything the time it deserves. If it’s training time, it’s training time. If it’s class time, it’s class time. My coach helps by building the program around my classes,” he disclosed.
In preparation for the World University Games, he has been focusing heavily on improving his speed and polishing the first part of his race, an area he believes could make all the difference.
He hopes to make the Kenyan team that will compete in the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September.
“After this championship, I’m hoping to run a good time and be part of the Kenya relay team to the World Championships,” he offered.
Omurwa is part of a strong Kenyan athletics squad in Germany that includes Frida Bosibori, Julius Lotabonyi, George Mutinda, Sarah Wanjiru, Collins Kiprotich, Gladys Chepngetich, Brian Musau, and Judy Jepkoech.
The Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games opened in spectacular style on Wednesday, 16 July, with over 20,000 fans attending a sold-out opening ceremony at the Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena in Duisburg.
Featuring live performances from Ayliva, Montez, Querbeat, and DJ Topic, alongside the WDR Funkhausorchester, the ceremony blended classical and contemporary sounds with emotional tributes and electrifying visuals.
A highlight of the night came when Olympic and Universiade legend Heide Ecker-Rosendahl carried the flame into the arena to a standing ovation, officially lighting the fire towers to launch the Games.
With nearly 8,000 athletes from over 2,000 universities participating, including 1,500 in Berlin, the competition promises to be a vibrant celebration of youth, talent, and sporting excellence.
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