Ferdinand Omanyala dismisses criticism over his refusal to race IShowSpeed

Ferdinand Omanyala has finally addressed why he turned down a much-hyped race challenge from YouTube star IShowSpeed, making it clear that the proposal simply did not add up professionally or financially.

Speaking during a public forum, the African 100m record holder said the idea may have been exciting for online audiences, but for an elite athlete whose career is built on discipline, planning, and performance, it came with too many risks and no real reward.

Omanyala explained that his training schedule is intense and unforgiving, often stretching to seven hours a day for most of the year. He noted that this routine runs for up to 44 weeks annually, all carefully structured to prepare him for major competitions on the global stage.

“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 laughter and applause from the audience.

Beyond the issue of compensation, the sprinter highlighted the physical risk involved. Taking part in an unscheduled exhibition race would have forced him to pause training for several days, disrupting his program and increasing the chance of injury — a gamble he is not willing to take.

He added that any injury sustained in such a setting would be difficult to justify to his sponsors, coaches, and management team, all of whom depend on his fitness and performance.

While acknowledging that the race would have been entertaining for fans and social media, Omanyala stressed that sprinting is not a hobby or a content opportunity for him, but a full-time profession with clear targets, contracts, and expectations.