Africa’s fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala says he has "grown" since his bitter exit in the semifinal stage at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Omanyala cruised to a 10.08 finish in Heat 2 of the men’s 100m event at the Paris Games, leading Italy’s Chituru Ali (10.12) and Germany’s Joshua Hartmann (10.16).
All three secured spots in the semifinals set for Sunday at 9:05 pm, with the final slated for 10:50 pm.
In Tokyo, Omanyala was eliminated after placing third (10.00) in semifinal 1.
He, however, reckons he is a better athlete and has high hopes of storming the final.
“So many things have happened in the last three years, Commonwealth and African titles and a couple of Diamond League wins. Three years is a long time for an athlete to grow,” he said.
Eager to compete against the world's best, Omanyala expressed his excitement for the upcoming semifinals and finals.
“I am happy to be here and going to the semis tomorrow. I am excited to see what happens,” he noted.
Reflecting on his performance in the heats, Omanyala revealed his strategy of conserving energy for the crucial races ahead.
“We are in a championship and I don’t want to burn myself out. Today was just about introducing yourself,” Omanyala said
“Tomorrow is where the real game is,” he added.
Omanyala, the second fastest man this year with a time of 9.79, is now focusing on recovery in preparation for tomorrow's showdown.
“Now it's all about recovery, taking ice baths, massage and rest. I am happy the semis are at 8pm so I get time to sleep,” he said.
Omanyala assured his fans and Africa that the Olympic title is within reach.
“We have waited for three years, I’m sure you can wait for another 24 hours,” he remarked.