The Africa 100m champion Ferdinand Omanyala has made the continent proud again. He has lifted the Kenyan flag higher to win the gold medal in the ongoing 2022 Commonwealth games at Birmingham in the United Kingdom. Omanyala made a sterling take off to clock 10.02 seconds to win, beating defending champion Akani Simbine from South Africa to second place in 10.13 sec. Yupun Abeykoon from Sri Lanka hauled bronze in 10.14 sec. Omanyala said that he had been working for the victory since the beginning of the year; “We have it…It’s now a reality!” said the Kenyan sprinter. The Kenyan said that the victory is a big motivation to him as he works toward winning next year's World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary as well as the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Omanyala now hopes his victory will encourage Kenyans and pave the way for many sprinters to come through in the future. He said; “It needed someone to break the barrier because there will be so many other sprinters coming through. It will have a lot of impacts now that I have two championship gold medals and an Africa record." The Kenyan sprinter said that he used the challenges he faced in the just concluded World Athletics Championships in Oregon, the U.S.A, as a stepping stone to good performance. Visa troubles saw Omanyala arrive at Oregon just hours before the start of the 100m competitions that saw him reach the semifinals stage. "It was about moving forward, using the setbacks to focus on the next adventure. Everything happens for a reason,” said Omanyala. 

The Kenyan sprinter further said that the rivalry between himself and Simbine had brought out the beast in him. "I thank him for keeping me on toes. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn't be fighting for anything now,” said Omanyala, who is yet to lose to Simbine. Simbine has never beaten me so he couldn’t have done it today. It’s such a blessing. He is a good rival,” added Omanyala. “I knew I had it when I left him at the blocks. That is what I wanted… to be in front from the start and push to the line.” Omanyala's focus is now shifted to the 4x100m relays where he hopes to lead his team to victory.