Ferdinand Omanyala's bio: career, record, wife, net worth

Ferdinand Omanyala's bio: career, record, wife, net worth

Babu Tendu, Cyprine Apindi
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:01 PM

Ferdinand Omanyala is a young man who has recently commanded global attention. He is arguably the fastest man in contemporary Africa. He is a sprinter who has bagged many medals and awards for his speed. His career stats have placed him on the global map and earned him a wide fan base.

Ferdinand Omanyala
The athlete is pictured outdoors. Photo: @ferdiomanyala (modified by author)
Source: UGC

Before winning his first global award, little was known about Ferdinand Omanyala. He is a sought-after Kenyan athlete who mainly competes in the 100-metre sprints. His speed is quite impressive. He aims to break Usain Bolt's world record in the sport.

Profile summary

Full name

Ferdinand Omanyala Omurwa

Gender

Male

Date of birth

2nd January 1996

Age

26 years (as of 2022)

Place of birth

Bungoma County, Kenya

Current residence

Nairobi, Kenya

Nationality

Kenyan

Ethnicity

Luhya

Zodiac sign

Capricorn

Religion

Christianity

Sexuality

Straight

Height in feet

5’ 9”

Height in centimetres

175

Weight in pounds

183

Weight in kilograms

83

Hair colour

Black

Eye colour

Black

Marital status

Married

Spouse

Laventa Amutavi

Children

1

Father

Fred Omurwa

Mother

Shikanga Omurwa

Siblings

4

Alma mater

Friends School Kamusinga and University of Nairobi

Profession

Athlete (sprinter)

Instagram

@ferdiomanyala

Twitter

@Ferdiomanyala

Who is Ferdinand Omanyala?

Ferdinand Omanyala Omurwa is a Kenyan athlete known for participating in 100-metre sprints. He is arguably the fastest man in Africa in 2022.

Exciting feature: Check out news exactly for YOU ➡️ find "Recommended for you" block and enjoy!

How old is Ferdinand Omanyala?

The professional athlete is 26 years old as of 2022. He was born on 2nd January 1996, and his Zodiac sign is Capricorn.

Where was Ferdinand Omanyala born?

The athlete was born in Bungoma County, Kenya. He was raised in the county together with his siblings.

Who are Ferdinand Omanyala's parents?

The athlete's father is Fred Omurwa, and his mother is Shikanga Omurwa. Fred and Shikanga are their son's biggest fans.

Shikanga fondly remembers how fast her son ran as a little boy. Omanyala is the couple's third child. The couple has four other children.

Which tribe is Ferdinand Omanyala from?

Ferdinand Omanyala's tribe is Luhya. The Luhya are the second-largest ethnic group in the country after the Kikuyu. Most of them live in western Kenya. Where does Ferdinand Omanyala come from? The athlete comes from Bungoma County.

Where is the home of Omanyala?

The athlete's rural home is in Bungoma County. Today, he is mainly based in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, where he resides with his family.

Educational background

The athlete went to a local primary school. As a child, he was actively involved in sports and was also brilliant in academics.

After sitting his Kenya Certificate of Primary Education exam, he attained high marks and joined Friends School Kamusinga for high school education. He played rugby in high school.

The Kenya Sevens Team Under-20 (U20) invited him to join the team after high school, but the trials did not materialise. After graduating from high school, he joined the University of Nairobi. He played rugby at the university.

Career

Missing a chance to join the Kenya Sevens Team Under-20 did not stop the athlete from pursuing other goals. He started his professional career as a local sprinter. He won nearly every race he competed in.

Coach Duncan Ayiemba noticed his exceptional sprinting speed and assisted him in honing it. In 2017, The Kenyan National Team selected him for the World Relays in the Bahamas. He finished seventh in his maiden international race.

Later, severe backache thwarted his participation in the World Games Universiade in Taiwan, where he had been scheduled to compete.

After recovering, the athlete made history at the Tokyo Olympics. He became the first Kenyan to compete in the semi-finals in the 100-metre sprint. Check out his most impressive 100-metre sprinting career stats below.

Date

Event

Overall position

Time (seconds)

30th March 2021

3rd MoC Grand Prix, Yabatech Sports Complex, Lagos

1

10.01

1st August 2021

The XXXII Olympic Games, National Stadium, Tokyo

3

10.00

14th August 2021

Int. JOSKO Laufmeeting, Pramtalstadion, Andorf

1

9.96

14th August 2021

Int. JOSKO Laufmeeting, Pramtalstadion, Andorf

1

9.86

18th September 2021

Kip Keino Classic, Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, Nairobi

2

9.77

5th March 2022

3rd Weekend Meeting, Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi

1

10.00

13th April 2022

ASA Athletics Grand Prix 4, Germiston Stadium, Johannesburg

1

9.98

7th May 2022

Kip Keino Classic, Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, Nairobi

1

9.85

3rd August 2022

XXII Commonwealth Games, Alexander Stadium, Birmingham (SF2)

1

10.02

3rd August 2022

XXII Commonwealth Games, Alexander Stadium, Birmingham (F)

1

10.02

Ferdinand Omanyala's best record

The athlete's best record was on 18th September 2021 at the Kip Keino Classic event held at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, Nairobi. He completed his 100-metre sprint in 9.77 seconds.

This record made him the fastest African sprinter in the 100m race. He broke the Kenyan 100m national record for the fifth time. His aim is to work on his speed and eventually become the fastest man in the world. He strongly believes he will break Usain Bolt's mark in the future.

What is Ferdinand Omanyala's net worth?

While it is evident that the athlete has raked significant amounts of cash from his sprinting career, he is yet to disclose his official net worth. He recently opened up about having his first million Kenyan shillings in 2021.

While it was exciting to see the amount in his account, he revealed that it was not much. He hopes to make more money through sprinting and brand sponsorships.

Ferdinand Omanyala's car

For a long time, the athlete dreamed of owning a Toyota Harrier. During the Kip Keino Classic Tour in September 2021, Odibets, his official sponsor, awarded him a new Toyota Harrier for breaking the African 100m record.

Who is Ferdinand Omanyala's wife?

The sprinter's wife is Laventa Amutavi. The two first met in 2016 at a sporting event in Nakuru. They met again in December of that year and began dating shortly afterwards.

The couple is blessed with a son named Quinton Finn Omanyala. On 20th October 2022, Laventa honoured her husband as her shujaa or hero during Kenya's Mashujaa Day.

Ferdinand Omanyala's 2017 athletics ban

In August 2017, Omanyala tested positive for using a prohibited substance called glucocorticoid betamethasone. He was given a 14-month ban by the Kenya Anti-Doping Agency.

His coach, Duncan Ayiemba, was sanctioned with a two-year ban. The decision barred the two from participating in any sporting activity by Athletics Kenya.

During this period, the athlete trained hard for his comeback. He returned to the field for competitive races in 2018. The following year, he was selected to join the Olympics team. However, he did not make the final cut because his ban period was not officially over.

How tall is Ferdinand Omanyala?

The Kenyan sprinter is 5’ 9” or 175 centimetres tall. He weighs about 183 pounds or 83 kilograms and has black hair and eyes.

Trivia

  • The athlete strongly believes that racing is 90% mental.
  • He was honoured with The Order of the Grand Warrior of Kenya (OGW) title by former President Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta.
  • He is an Adidas athlete.

Ferdinand Omanyala is a young man who has made his home country proud. The professional sprinter hopes to break Usain Bolt's speed in the future.

READ ALSO: Who is Sipho Mbule? Career, salary, house, girlfriend, transfer news

Sportsbrief.com recently published the biography of Sipho Mbule. Mbule is a South African footballer who plays as a central midfielder for South African Premier Division side Mamelodi Sundowns.

The athlete has trained with the South Africa national under-17 team. He has also represented his country's under-20, under-23, and senior international teams.

Authors
Babu Tendu photo
Babu Tendu
SEO Editor
Cyprine Apindi photo
Cyprine Apindi
Cyprine Apindi is a content creator and reporter with over 4 years of experience based in Kenya. She holds a Diploma in Mass Communication from Kenyatta University.