Africa’s Fastest Man Ferdinand Omanyala Shares Powerful Statement Days After Mauritius Heroics

Africa’s Fastest Man Ferdinand Omanyala Shares Powerful Statement Days After Mauritius Heroics

Fred Kennedy
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:05 PM
  • Kenyan sprinting star Ferdinand Omanyala has claimed that hard work is more important than talent in sports
  • Omanyala made the claim just days after he won the 100m title during the African Athletics Championships in Mauritius
  • The 26-year-old clocked an incredible 9.93 seconds to beat South Africa's Akani Simbine to the crown

Ferdinand Omanyala has claimed that "hard work beats talent" just days after he conquered the continent to win the 100m during the African Athletics Championships in Mauritius.

The Kenyan sprinter beat South Africa's Akani Simbine to win the 100m title at the Cote d’Or National Sports Complex.

Ferdinand Omanyala, The World Athletics Indoor Championships, Belgrade. Photo by Pedja MILOSAVLJEVIC.
Kenya's Ferdinand Omanyala competes in the men's 60 metres heats during The World Athletics Indoor Championships at the Stark Arena, in Belgrade. Photo by Pedja MILOSAVLJEVIC.
Source: Getty Images

Omanyala clocked an impressive 9.93 seconds to shatter the 1998 record of 9.94 seconds set by Nigeria’s Seun Ogunkoya in Dakar, Senegal.

The win also saw him become the first Kenyan sprinter to win the 100m crown in 32 years, with Joseph Gikonyo who did it at the 1990 Cairo championships the last Kenyan to taste victory in the event.

Ferdinand Omanyala says hard work beats talent

Omanyala has now taken to social media to claim that hard work beats talent hands down.

The 26-year-old believes the two aspects are what sets apart most athletes, adding that one must possess the determination to reach their desired goals.

"Hard work beats talent every single time. It does not matter what your capabilities are, what matters is how you perform. The results you produce are what you are graded upon," he posted on social media.
"You must possess the determination to continue moving forward when you are under constant pressure. This is what makes a minority of people successful and the majority of people mediocre," he added.

Ferdinand Omanyala confident of breaking Usai Bolt's record

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Kenyan sprinter Ferdinand Omanyala has set his sights on breaking Jamaican icon Usain Bolt's world record in the 100m.

Bolt's name went into the history books back in 2009 during the IAAF World Championships in Berlin after he posted 9.58 seconds.

While the record stands to date, American sprinter Christian Coleman came close to breaking the record three years ago.

However, Omanyala contends that he has all it takes to outdo Bolt and set a new world record.

The 26-year-old currently holds the record for Africa's fastest man after he clocked 9.77 seconds during a previous event.

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Fred Kennedy
Fred Kennedy has a Bachelor's degree in journalism (Daystar University), currently working as a Sports Editor. He has more than five years of experience in digital journalism.
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