President William Ruto recently celebrated the athletes who secured medals at the just-concluded Olympic Games, and during the vibrant ceremony, he officially declared Eldoret as Kenya’s fifth city. The event was attended by numerous politicians and athletes who have represented Kenya on the global stage. However, the absence of one prominent figure, Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, did not go unnoticed. His absence left many speculating whether he was held up by other commitments or chose to skip the event deliberately.
Omanyala is currently under significant pressure, facing intense scrutiny on social media. Despite his impressive achievements, including raising Kenya’s flag high with his record-breaking performances, he has become a target of criticism. This backlash is largely due to his performance at the recent Olympic Games, where, despite winning his first-round qualifier, he failed to reach the finals. His semi-final performance left many Kenyans disappointed, especially those who had hoped he would become the first Kenyan sprinter to win an Olympic medal. The same voices that once praised him have now turned against him, flooding social media with harsh criticism—highlighting the fickle nature of public opinion, particularly in Kenya.
Acknowledging the weight of his Olympic experience, Omanyala responded with a simple yet powerful message to both his supporters and critics: “Whatever you’re facing right now—it’s not the end of your story. God is with you and always will be.”
Since that statement and his last social media post six days ago, Omanyala has maintained a low profile, avoiding the public eye. His absence was particularly noted during the August 15th ceremony marking Eldoret’s elevation to city status—a city celebrated for producing world-class athletes. All other Olympic athletes, both medalists and non-medalists, were present at the event.
Omanyala’s absence has fueled speculation that he may be taking a break to process the disappointment and rejection from those who once cheered for him but now feel let down. During the event, President Ruto acknowledged the immense pressure faced by athletes like Omanyala. He drew parallels to marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge, who also faced challenges at the Olympics, urging Kenyans to refrain from criticizing athletes who have done so much to elevate Kenya on the global stage.
Sports CS Kipchumba Murkomen echoed the President’s sentiments, highlighting the significant sacrifices athletes make in their pursuit of excellence. He emphasized that being an athlete is far from easy.
During the ceremony, President Ruto honored the Olympic medalists with cash prizes. Gold medalists Beatrice Chebet (10,000m and 5,000m), Faith Kipyegon (1500m), and Emmanuel Wanyonyi (800m) each received Ksh. 3 million. Faith Kipyegon and Ronald Kwemoi were also awarded Ksh. 2 million for winning silver in the 5,000-meter track race. Bronze medalists Mary Moraa (800m), Abraham Kibiwott (Steeplechase), Faith Cherotich (Steeplechase), Benson Kipruto (marathon), and Hellen Obiri (marathon) each received Ksh. 1 million.
Thanks to the outstanding performances of these athletes, Kenya ranked 17th globally in the Olympic medal standings and first in Africa.
Facebook Comments