Ferdinand Omanyala Reveals Severity of Injury That Affected His 2025 Season and Why He Stayed Silent

Ferdinand Omanyala has opened up about the degree of injury he had this season while revealing why he had no intention of making it public.

Africa’s fastest man endured a difficult 2025 season, admitting that failing to dip under 10 seconds even once was a tough pill to swallow.

Omanyala opened his campaign in South Africa before finishing second at the Botswana Golden Grand Prix in 10.00 seconds behind Akani Simbine. He later made his Diamond League season debut in Xiamen, clocking 10.13, followed by 10.25 in Keqiao.

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The Kenyan sprinter went on to post 10.05 for second place at the Rabat Diamond League, before finishing third at the Kip Keino Classic in 10.07. He later clocked 10.01 in Rome as his season struggles continued.

His year culminated at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, where Omanyala’s hopes ended in the semifinals, closing a season he described as one of the toughest in his career.

The reigning Commonwealth Games champion revealed that he had an injury before withdrawing from the Diamond League Meeting final in Zurich.

In a recent interview on Sporty FM, Ferdinand Omanyala expounded on the degree of the injury, revealing that at first, he did not take it lightly, but it became worse, and he had to give it the attention needed.

Ferdinand Omanyala disclosed that a few days before the World Athletics Championships, he was not certain if he would be on the starting line, noting that reaching the semifinal was a plus for him.

“This season has been tough. There's a season I did 12 sub 10s, in 2023, and now, coming into a season that I haven't done any sub 10s. For me, that was a very tough season. Coming into this season, of course, we were trying to get a peak before Tokyo, but then, coming close to Tokyo, we had an injury,” Ferdinand Omanyala said.

“The injury was that I tore my tendon twice. So, it was bleeding, and we didn't know. Now, the tendon that attaches the hamstrings to the glutes. So that part was bleeding, and then there were blood clots.

“So, the muscles didn't get a proper line to move and flow. It was affecting the hip as well as the soleus muscle. That was a hard time because even four days before the world championships, we didn't know if I was going to compete. Thankfully, Kenya’s medical team made sure that we got to that start line. For me, the semi-final was an achievement.”

Ferdinand Omanyala explained that he had already spoken openly about his struggles, emphasising that he dislikes making excuses and prefers to take responsibility when things do not go his way.

He admitted that this season has been difficult to accept but maintained that he remains optimistic, convinced that his journey in athletics still has much more to offer.

Ferdinand Omanyala reflected on the years it took him to achieve his first sub-10 performance and expressed faith that a world medal will eventually come, insisting that patience is necessary even when expectations from others feel overwhelming.

“I did tell the world about that. I'm that person who really hates excuses. Yeah, I hate excuses. If it's not your day, it's not your day. You haven't performed, and that's the bottom line of it. So, I'm that person who challenges myself so much,” Ferdinand Omanyala added.

“Such a season was hard to take, but you know I'm a very positive person because I believe I'm here for a reason. I didn't get to this journey just to end it here. You know it took me six years to run a sub-10.

“I believe the world medal will come one day. I know we just have to be patient. Amen. And this one is hard because now being patient with a lot of people.”

Despite the setbacks, Ferdinand Omanyala remains determined to bounce back stronger, choosing to see this season as part of the learning curve rather than the end of his story.

Africa’s fastest man is already looking ahead, convinced that his biggest breakthrough on the world stage is still to come.