World’s 9th Fastest Man, Ferdinand Omanyala After Battling Bankruptcy and Doping, Claims: “Life Is Like a Boxing Match”

With humble beginnings in Africa, Ferdinand Omanyala stands out as a dominant force in the world of track and field. At 28 years old, Omanyala is celebrated as the African record holder and the ninth-fastest man of all time in the 100m. However, his journey has been far from easy. Despite his success, Omanyala remains grounded, acknowledging his challenging upbringing.

As he shared with Olympics.com, “I come from a very difficult situation and from a very humble background.” Battling bankruptcy and a doping scandal, this champion has overcome significant hurdles. Now, as he prepares for the Paris Olympics, he shares his philosophy and lessons learned.

Ferdinand Omanyala shares his philosophy on life, having faced massive hurdles along the way

In a post on X, Justin Gatlin, the five-time Olympic medalist, shared a snippet from an episode of the Ready Set Go podcast featuring himself, Rodney Green, and special guest Ferdinand Omanyala. In the snippet, Rodney Green shared a powerful insight, saying, “Success feels so good. Because you fail so many times.” He pointed out that people often only see the end result of success, without understanding the struggles and failures that lead to it. Green stressed the importance of learning from these failures, explaining that by recognizing and correcting mistakes, one can eventually achieve success.

Ferdinand Omanyala responded to Green’s insight by sharing his own perspective: “Life is like a boxing match. But what matters is how you get up. You know, like how you face the next day.” In the snippet, Omanyala highlighted the finite nature of time, stressing that each day presents only 24 hours. He shared that time doesn’t wait for anyone, regardless of their circumstances. Whether one is feeling frustrated or self-critical, life continues to move forward, demanding that people confront their challenges and find solutions.

These words from the gold medalist of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, Ferdinand Omanyala, deeply resonate with fans. Despite beginning his athletic career in 2016, he endured a 14-month doping ban in 2017 that led to him going bankrupt. Despite this, Omanyala made his Olympic debut at Tokyo Olympics in 2021. As he sets his sights on his second Olympic journey to Paris, let’s explore how he has followed and lived this philosophy throughout his journey.

The tough road to his second Olympic cycle

Ferdinand Omanyala’s athletic journey has been marked by significant challenges, including a doping scandal and financial struggles that left him practically penniless. In 2017, his career hit a roadblock when he was suspended for 14 months due to doping charges. Despite serving his ban, his hopes of competing in major events were dashed by Athletics Kenya. Struggling to make ends meet, he found solace and support in his girlfriend and now wife, Laventa Amutavi, who took on the responsibility of managing their household expenses. In 2021, the African track star Omanyala shared with Nairobi Wire, “I trained for six months without any competing. I had no money, my girlfriend Laventa Mutavi took care of the bills. She paid rent and bought food. She handed me her salary to cater for major bills in the house.”

With her support, Omanyala dedicated himself to reclaiming his position in the athletic world. His determination paid off when he set a national record of 10.01 seconds in the 100-meter event in March 2021, securing a spot in the Tokyo Olympics. His return to the top was not only proof of his hard work but also of the support and sacrifices made by his wife. Today, Ferdinand Omanyala stands as a beacon of hope and inspiration, not just for Kenya but for the entire African continent.

In an interview with Olympics.com, he reflected, “I’ve come to realise [as I’ve] achieved so much in life, [you can] get all the fame, all the money… but all these things are just vanity. What’s more, the most important thing in life is the relationships you build and the people that are around you.” Ferdinand Omanyala is not only focused on representing Kenya on the global stage but also on enhancing sprinting disciplines in his country and across Africa.

He envisions establishing a sprint camp in Kenya, complete with an educational program for aspiring sprinters. As he paves his road to Paris 2024 and beyond, Omanyala is determined to leave his mark on the world stage and inspire a new generation of African sprinters. As fans eagerly anticipate how his legacy will endure and flourish, what are your thoughts on his journey? Comment below!