“I Puked”: Ferdinand Omanyala Reveals Unheard Struggles of Sport at World Indoor Championships

Before the Paris Olympics rolls in with a rush of thrill, one of the precursor qualifying events is here. The 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships has kicked off and besides the US track stars, we have eyes on the other nations too. The Indoors being as adrenaline-fueled as the Outdoors, before the semi-finals and finals, the heats are also something to consider.

Noah Lyles and Christian Coleman being favorites of the 60m dash, we can’t skip Ferdinand Omanyala, the Kenyan 60m national record holder. Looking forward to the contentious semi-finals, how did the tension of making it to the line-up hit him?

World Indoor Championships took a toll on Ferdinand Omanyala

The  Kenyan sprinter specializing in the 60m, 100m, and 200m is just one step away from the 60m feat. But the stress and training sessions took a toll on him. According to CITIUS MAG’s X post, the caption says, “He advanced to the World Indoor Championships 60m semifinals with a 6.52 victory in his heat”. 

But his words took our attention as he continued to say, “I’ve done so many things that I’ve never done before. I’ve never puked in training so this was my first time that I puked. So it has been getting in the work. Your body goes where you train it, so you know, my body has been feeling great”.

In the primary years of his sprinting career, a 14-month suspension had almost put a stop to his blooming career. But his comeback stood as a testament to his undying spirit, which culminated in 2022 by winning back-to-back 100m feats. Now, as the World Athletics Indoor Championships is midway, will Ferdinand Omanyala be able to make a mark? Let’s have a look at his Heats win.

Omanyala’s victory earned him a position beside the track greats

Clocking in at 6.52s, Africa’s fastest sprinter finished at pole position. He therefore left Japan’s Shuhei Tada and Marc Brian Louis in second and third positions, respectively. Later today, the 28-year-old will lock horns with the fastest 100m Noah Lyles and WR holder Christian Coleman.

READ MORE: What Led Ferdinand Omanyala to Bankruptcy?

However, a disqualification could have come his way after he inadvertently entered Brendon Rodney’s lane during the performance. But the haste didn’t give him an advantage in the race so his place got saved. It’s just a matter of minutes to see whether he can maintain his streak or not.

Continue reading: Noah Lyles vs. Christian Coleman Showdown Set to Be Upended by Record-Holding African Sprinter