Ferdinand Omanyala, Africa’s fastest man, recently shared a deeply personal experience following his disappointing performance at the Paris Olympics. After being eliminated from the men’s 100m semifinal, where he finished in eighth place, Omanyala was overwhelmed with a mix of anger and confusion. He had gone into the event confident that he would make the final and possibly even win a medal, but his dreams were shattered in the semifinals.
Devastated by the loss, Omanyala found himself questioning everything, including his faith. He even went as far as deleting all Bible apps from his phone and contemplating a change in his life’s direction. His frustration was so intense that it kept him up late into the night, unable to find peace.
It was during these early hours, around 4 a.m., that Omanyala experienced something extraordinary. He described receiving an email from God, an event that felt completely surreal. The message read, “It wasn’t supposed to be this way, we don’t always understand God’s will, and if I’m being honest, there are times that we don’t like His will either.”
The email went on to reflect on the nature of grief, suffering, and the uncertainty that accompanies disappointment. It reassured Omanyala that even in the face of hardship, God’s presence was constant, and whatever he was going through was not the end of his story. The email reminded him that the Bible didn’t shy away from stories of suffering and that, like those stories, his own challenges were part of a larger, meaningful journey.
At first, Omanyala struggled to believe what had happened. His management and coaches were also skeptical, unsure of the legitimacy of the email. However, the message brought him a sense of comfort and clarity that he had been desperately seeking. He began to understand that God’s will might not always align with his own expectations, but that everything had a purpose, even the most painful experiences.
As he reflected on the events, Omanyala began to see that his performance at the Olympics, and the subsequent disappointment, may have been part of a divine plan. He came to believe that God was protecting him from the negative consequences of certain outcomes that might have been waiting for him. This understanding brought him a sense of peace, helping him move past his anger and disappointment.
Omanyala now holds onto the belief that his moment of triumph will eventually come. Though he may not know when or how, he is confident that he will achieve greatness in the future, and when that moment arrives, all the glory will go to God. He expressed that even though the miracle might not happen today or tomorrow or even in the next few years he trusts that it will eventually unfold.
Leading up to the Paris Olympics, Omanyala had felt assured of his success, bolstered by scriptures he had been reading and visions he had received from prayer partners. He had been preparing for a historic performance, especially after a strong showing in the early rounds of the competition. However, the semifinal result crushed his hopes, leaving him filled with frustration and anger. At that moment, he doubted not only his athletic abilities but also his purpose in the sport.
The words of the email, however, helped him reconcile with his feelings of disappointment. Instead of allowing the failure to define his career, Omanyala took it as a reminder that life’s challenges are not meant to break him but to guide him to something greater. He believes that with patience and faith, a miracle will one day occur, and he will be able to fulfill the destiny he feels God has laid out for him.
After the Olympics, Omanyala took a brief break to recover and refocus. He later resumed his competitive season, including a strong finish at the Diamond League Meeting final in Brussels. As the new season unfolds, he remains uncertain about his next steps, whether he will compete at the World Indoor Championships or continue building his form for the World Championships in Tokyo. Regardless of the outcome, he is steadfast in his belief that greater things are yet to come.
