Injury Forces Africa’s Fastest Man Out of Diamond League Final as World Championships Loom

Ferdinand Omanyala’s withdrawal from Thursday’s Diamond League final in Zurich deals crushing blow to Kenya’s sprint hopes just weeks before Tokyo World Championships

Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala, Africa’s fastest man over 100 meters, has been forced to withdraw from the crucial Diamond League final scheduled for Thursday at Letzigrund Stadium in Zurich, Switzerland, dealing a devastating blow to his season and raising concerns about his fitness ahead of next month’s World Athletics Championships.

The 29-year-old sprinter announced on Monday through his social media platforms that persistent hip, iliopsoas, and gluteal pain experienced over recent weeks has made participation impossible.

The withdrawal comes at a critical juncture in the season, with the Diamond League final representing the last major competitive opportunity before the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, scheduled for September 13-21, 2025.

“Due to recent hip, iliopsoas, and gluteal pain experienced over the past few weeks, I regret to inform you that I will be unable to participate in the Diamond League Finals 2025,” Omanyala stated in his announcement.

The iliopsoas muscle, crucial for hip flexion and rotation, plays a vital role in sprinting mechanics, making this injury particularly concerning for a 100-meter specialist.

The timing of this setback is particularly cruel for Omanyala, who had successfully qualified for the Diamond League final with 20 points, ranking fifth overall in the series. His withdrawal not only denies him the chance to compete for the lucrative Diamond Trophy but also eliminates what would have been valuable competitive preparation ahead of the World Championships.

Omanyala’s 2025 campaign has been marked by inconsistency and underwhelming performances. The Commonwealth Games 100m champion has failed to record a sub-10-second time this season – a stark contrast to his previous form that saw him become the first Kenyan to win a Diamond League 100m event in Monaco in 2023.

His Diamond League performances this year tell a story of gradual decline. In Xiamen, China, he managed a season-best 10.00 seconds but finished second to South Africa’s Akani Simbine, who dominated with 9.90.

The pattern continued in Shanghai, where Omanyala finished last in 10.25 seconds, again watching Simbine claim victory in 9.98. In Rabat, another second-place finish to Simbine (10.05 vs 9.95) further highlighted his struggles to match his previous standards.

Throughout these challenging performances, Omanyala has consistently assured fans that he was managing his training and competition schedule strategically, promising to peak at the right moment.

His withdrawal, however, raises serious questions about whether ongoing physical issues have been hampering his performances all season.

The sprinter’s absence from Thursday’s final will be particularly disappointing for Kenyan athletics fans who have watched him break barriers and establish himself as a global sprint contender. Omanyala made history as the first Kenyan 100m sprinter to not only compete in the Diamond League but to actually win an event in the prestigious series.

His 2023 Diamond League final appearance in Eugene, Oregon, where he clocked 9.85 seconds to finish third behind Christian Coleman and Noah Lyles, demonstrated his ability to perform on the biggest stages. That performance, along with his Diamond League victory in Monaco, established him as a legitimate contender in global sprinting.

Despite the setback, Omanyala remains optimistic about his World Championships participation. “I am optimistic about my recovery and anticipate being fully fit for Tokyo,” he stated, setting up what will be a crucial three-week recovery period.

This will mark Omanyala’s third World Championships appearance, following his participation in Eugene 2022 and Budapest 2023. The Tokyo championships represent not just another competition but a chance for redemption after a season that has fallen well short of expectations.

As Omanyala focuses on his recovery in his training base in Miramas, southern France, the athletics world will be watching closely.

His participation in 20 races this season may have contributed to the cumulative stress that has manifested in his current injury situation.

The World Championships in Tokyo will provide Omanyala with the opportunity to salvage something from what has been a difficult 2025 season. However, his withdrawal from Zurich serves as a stark reminder that even the continent’s fastest man is not immune to the physical demands and inherent risks of elite competition.

For Kenya’s sprinting program, Omanyala’s situation emphasizes the need for depth and the development of emerging talent who can step up when established stars face setbacks. As he works toward recovery, the focus shifts from immediate disappointment to longer-term preparation for what could be a defining moment in his athletic career.

The Diamond League final will proceed without Africa’s fastest man, but all eyes will be on Tokyo in September to see if Ferdinand Omanyala can overcome his current challenges and remind the world why he remains one of global sprinting’s most compelling stories.