Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, has for the second consecutive time withdrawn from the Diamond League final because of an injury.
The former Commonwealth Games 100 metres champion has suffered a stress fracture in his left calcaneus -- heel bone that has knocked him out of the 2026 Diamond League final on Friday and Saturday at King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, Belgium.
It also means the former Africa champion will miss the inaugural Sh1.3 billion ($10 million) World Athletics Ultimate Championships, scheduled for September 11 to 13 in Budapest, Hungary.
Last year, Omanyala withdrew from the Diamond League final in Zurich due to hip, glute, and pelvic pain.
Despite the setback, Omanyala, who is undergoing treatment in Istres, France, said he was proud of his season’s performance, having run five consecutive sub-10 seconds 100m.
“Closing the season ranked No. 3 in the Diamond League standings and earning a direct qualification for the inaugural Ultimate Championship is something to be proud of,” said Omanyala.
He announced on his social media handles on Tuesday that he sustained the injury two weeks before the Commonwealth Games.
“That is why I won't be able to compete in my final two races of the season,” said Omanyala, regretting that it’s not the way he had planned to finish the season. “But there is so much from this season to celebrate and be grateful for,” he said.
Ferdinand Omanyala charges past Brandon Hicklin in 100m men finishing line during World Continental Gold Tour Kipkeino Classic on April 24, 2026 at Nyayo National Stadium.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
Omanyala thanked his coach Duncan Ayiemba, his team, sponsors and partners for their work and support behind the scenes. “None of these milestones happen alone without the belief, support, and for continuing to walk this journey with me.”
Omanyala, 30, is among three Kenyan athletes who have withdrawn from the Diamond League Finals and World Athletics Ultimate Challenge due to injuries and sickness.
The others are Olympic and world 1,500m champion Faith Kipyegon and world 800m champion Lilian Odira.
The season had been a renaissance of sorts for Omanyala, who had stayed 20 months without registering a sub-10 seconds performance.
He had last run under 10 seconds at the Silesia Diamond League on August 25, 2024, a 9.88 effort to settle second, before a slump in form amidst injuries and a change of coaches.
Back with his coach Ayiemba after two seasons, Omanyala would crack his first sub-10 seconds in men’s 100m at the inaugural Addis Ababa Grand Prix on April 18 at the Addis Ababa Stadium.
Omanyala would then settle for third place in 9.95 at the Botswana Golden Grand Prix, National Stadium, Gaborone before opening up his Diamond League season with a second-place finish of 9.98 in Xiamen on May 16 before winning Shanghai in 9.94 a week later.
Since then, Omanyala has struggled to dip below 10, finishing eighth in 10.11 at Rome Diamond League on June 4.
Omanyala finished sixth in 10.02 at Paris Diamond League where American Trayvon Bromell edged out compatriot, Olympic champion Noah Lyles to victory in 9.91 against 9.92.
The Kenyan speedster failed to defend his Commonwealth Games title in Glasgow, Scotland, finishing sixth in his semi-final heat in 10.19 as Emmanuel Eseme from Cameroon claimed the title in a championship record time of 9.83.
Omanyala has run 23 times under 10 seconds in 100m since his memorable maiden appearance at the Kip Keino Classic on September 18, 2021 where he ran an African record time of 9.77 seconds.
