Injury Forces Omanyala Out of Diamond League Finals in Zurich

• Aug 25, 2025

Kenyan sprint star Ferdinand Omanyala has confirmed he will not compete in the 2025 Diamond League finals in Zurich, Switzerland, due to injury. His withdrawal ends hopes of a highly anticipated showdown against top sprinters including Noah Lyles and Letsile Tebogo.

The finals of the Wanda Diamond League, scheduled for August 27–28, will take place at Zurich’s Sechseläutenplatz and Letzigrund Stadium, bringing together some of the world’s best athletes across track and field. In a statement shared on X on Monday, Omanyala explained that persistent hip, iliopsoas, and gluteal pain forced him to pull out of the event.

“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,” his statement read.

Despite the setback, the 29-year-old sprinter expressed confidence in his recovery. He confirmed he is targeting a strong return at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, scheduled for September 13–21, where he has already been named in Kenya’s provisional squad. “I am optimistic about my recovery and anticipate being fully fit for Tokyo,” he said.

Omanyala’s injury comes after a demanding season on the Diamond League circuit. He began his campaign in April in Xiamen, China, where he ran 10.13 seconds to finish second. However, he slipped to ninth in Keqiao with a time of 10.20 seconds. His form improved with a second-place finish in Rabat in 10.05 seconds and a third-place finish in Rome in 10.01 seconds.

At home in Nairobi, Omanyala managed third place at the Kip Keino Classic, clocking 10.07 seconds. Most recently, he won the men’s 100m in Andorf, Austria, with a time of 10.03 seconds.

The Kenyan remains one of the world’s fastest sprinters, holding the African record of 9.77 seconds, which he set in Nairobi in 2021. That time ranks seventh fastest in the world over the past decade and stands as the fastest 100m ever run on African soil.

Omanyala’s absence from Zurich is a disappointment for athletics fans, but his focus now shifts to Tokyo, where he hopes to prove his resilience on the global stage.