Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, has finally addressed the viral buzz around why he declined to race popular YouTuber IShowSpeed.Speaking during a public forum, the African 100m record holder made it clear that while the proposed race might have thrilled online audiences, it simply did not make sense for an athlete competing at the highest level. Omanyala explained that his training regimen is intense and non-negotiable, stretching up to seven hours a day for most of the year.
“Imagine me putting in seven hours of training every day for months, 44 weeks in a year, then someone comes and we race and you pay me with streams and likes. Is it fair?” Omanyala posed, drawing applause and laughter from the audience.
The sprinter emphasized that his career is built on consistency, careful planning, and peak physical condition. Accepting the challenge, he said, would have required him to pause training for several days which is a risky move for an athlete with competitions, rankings, and qualification targets to meet.
More importantly, Omanyala pointed out the risk of injury, noting that even a minor setback could derail months of preparation. Such an injury, he added, would be difficult to justify to his sponsors, management team, and coaches, all of whom invest heavily in his performance and long-term career.
While acknowledging that the proposed race would have been entertaining for fans and social media, Omanyala drew a clear line between content creation and professional sport.The moment has sparked mixed reactions online, with some fans expressing disappointment while others praised Omanyala for standing his ground and protecting the integrity of his sport.