- Omanyala looks to become the first African to win a 100m medal at the Worlds
- He is the reigning Commonwealth Games champion
- Omanyala is confident of bidding for a medal
Former Olympic and World Champion Michael Johnson has made a bold prediction that Commonwealth Games champion and African record holder Ferdinand Omanyala will become the first African to win a medal at the World Championships.
Though he cast a doubt due to the Kenyan sprinter’s body physique, Johnson, winner of the 1996 and 200 Olympic Games in the 400m believes that Omanyala has proved his worth this season.
“Said it before. I believe Omanyala will be the first African to win a 100m World Champs medal. 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?” Johnson posed on his Twitter account.
Despite the questions about his physique, Omanyala sees no problem as he says it is his natural body, and the only difference between now and last year when he prepared for the Worlds in Eugene is that he has toned up a bit.
Meanwhile, Omanyala has vowed to bring a medal from the World Championships in Budapest, despite heavy competition expected.
Knows it will be tough
Ferdinand Omanyala competing at the Monaco Diamond League. (Photo- Ferdinand Omanyala/Twitter)
“I know it will be tough. The Americans have shown really good form this season but I don’t mind about them. I only care about myself and how I am preparing. I feel great. Over the last four weeks we have put on quite some work and I trust that the results will show,” said the Kenyan sprint king.
He says competing in the Diamond League, where he is the current series leader in the men’s 100m has been a huge advantage to his preparations.
“Competing at the highest level many times improves an athlete. I have run in five Diamond League races against top class athletes and pulled good results. I believe this has boosted my confidence a great deal because it has shown my ability. We only have to work on a few areas and I believe I will be ready for Budapest,” Omanyala added on.
The 26-year old competed in his last race at the Joskolauf Meet in Austria, a World Athletics Bronze Label meet, where he finished second with a relatively slow time of 10.08secs.
No cause for alarm
Ferdinand Omanyala. Photo/PlugTV
But despite the defeat, Omanyala says there is no cause for alarm as he is well on course to keep doing his thing, and has fired warning shots to everyone headed to Budapest.
He will now return to France, where he will hold a two-week training camp in the city of Miramas, a low altitude area that is ideal for sprints.
“I have been competing against most of these athletes who train in low altitude all season. Now, imagine the results if I also train in altitude for like a month. I have been in Europe for almost a month and a half and I believe this will make the difference for me,” noted Omanyala.
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