Michael Johnson Backs Omanyala for World Athletics Championships Medal After Diamond League Win

• Michael Johnson has backed Ferdinand Omanyala to medal at the World Athletics Championships
• The Kenyan star will receive competition from the likes of Fred Kerley and Noah Lyles in Budapest
• Johnson led a decorated career in his active days which includes winning four Olympic gold medals

Ferdinand Omanyala has received timely backing from former Olympic and World Champion, Michael Johnson ahead of the World Athletics Championships in Budapest this weekend.

The Kenyan heads Hungary as one of the men's 100-metre favourites after rising through the ranks rapidly since 2021.

He is the fastest man in Africa with a time of 9.77 seconds, as captured by World Athletics and is both the African and Commonwealth Champion.

For a country best known for middle and long-distance races, Omanyala will seek to demystify the notion that Kenya and Africa, by extension, can't produce elite sprinters.

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To date, no African has ever won a medal in the race at the World Championships. Johnson believes this could change this year, throwing his weight behind the 27-year-old.

"[I have] said it before. I believe Omanyala will be the first African to win a 100m World Champs medal."

Why Johnson is backing Omanyala

Despite what other coaches might think, the eight-time Olympic gold medalist believes that Omanyala's heavily built physique might be an advantage for him.

"His muscular structure provides tremendous power but do any coaches or sport science experts out there think it could become a limiting factor in his ability to sprint efficiently?"

Omanyala has posted a series of impressive results this season, including his first-ever win at a Diamond League event when he cruised to victory in Monaco. Apart from the Kenyan, Africa will also have South Africa's Akani Simbine to look up to in Budapest.

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Simbine and Omanyala are the joint leaders of the 2023 Diamond League 100m standings.

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Sports Brief also reported on women's world 100m hurdle champion, Tobi Amusan being cleared to compete at the World Athletics Championship in Budapest.

The 26-year-old Nigerian can defend her title again after being provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit for allegedly skipping three drug tests.