Oblique Seville at the World Championships in Tokyo (© Getty Images)
At 1.70m (5ft 7in) tall, Oblique Seville may not fit the archetype of the power-packed 100m sprinter, but his slender frame hides explosive speed. His motto, “Be unique”, feels apt.
Last month in Tokyo, the 24-year-old earned Jamaica’s first world title in the men’s 100m since Usain Bolt more than a decade ago. Competing in his fourth global final, Seville produced the race of his life to beat compatriot Kishane Thompson and USA’s world and Olympic champion Noah Lyles.
Seville reacted fastest to the fun and surged clear of the field, powering home in a lifetime best of 9.77 ahead of Thompson (9.82) and Lyles (9.89). His time is a Japanese all-comers’ record and equalled the third-fastest ever at a World Championships, matching Bolt’s 2013 mark.
It marked a stunning turnaround after finishing last in the Olympic final a year earlier, following back-to-back fourth-place finishes at the 2022 and 2023 World Championships.
Oblique Seville, Noah Lyles and Zharnel Hughes at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest (© Getty Images)
“When I stood at the start line in the final, the only thing that came to mind was ‘this is it, I am going to win’,” said Seville. “I knew I was going to get the start, and I patiently went into my blocks.”
But even victory didn’t come perfectly. “When the gun went, I said ‘yes, I got the start’, but my transition phase was not great and I realised Kishane was getting away from me,” he said. “I lifted my head early and started running. As I approached the finish line, I had passed everyone.”
After years of promise and near misses, Seville was relieved to “get the monkey off my back”. His fiery post-race celebration sent a clear message to doubters. “I can’t blame the Jamaican fans,” he said. “I had to prove to those who felt I struggled under pressure that it’s never the case. I’ve just been unfortunate with injuries.”
Occasionally, doubts crept in, but he credited his coach’s unwavering belief. “When I hear people say I have a mental problem, I feel so bad. It’s like being wrongfully charged,” he said. “I decided I was not going to settle for just a medal, I’m going for gold.”
Roots and rise
Born in Ness Castle, St Thomas, Seville first raced at the Primary Schools All-Island finals. “After leading comfortably and reaching the 70m mark, I dipped for the line and stopped, only to see everyone continuing,” he recalls of the moment he discovered that the markings were for the hurdles event, not the finish line. “I ran off again and eventually finished seventh.”
After three modest years at Holmwood Technical, a transfer arranged by his first coach, Ms James, took him to Calabar High. Sitting out a year due to transfer rules, he trained alongside Christopher Taylor, Michael Stephens, Tyreke Wilson and De’Jour Russell.
By 2019, he was ready. “I was so determined to prove myself. I never missed a day of training,” he said. That season he ran 10.13 to win the U19 ‘Champs’ title, just 0.01 shy of Zharnel Hughes’ record, before taking CARIFTA U20 gold and Pan American U20 silver.
Oblique Seville at the Olympics in Tokyo in 2021 (© Getty Images)
Injury and the pandemic stalled his 2020 campaign, but joining Glenn Mills’ Racers Track Club reignited his progress. Mills, mentor to Bolt, Yohan Blake and Kim Collins, became the architect of Seville’s resurgence.
In May 2022, Seville broke the 10-second barrier with 9.86, the first of what he called his two best races – the other being Tokyo.
Building momentum
“This year is the healthiest I’ve ever been,” Seville said. “The Grand Slam Track series helped, and after the Jamaican Trials, I decided to compete on the Diamond League circuit.”
Convincing wins over Lyles in London (9.86 to 10.00) and Lausanne (9.87 to 10.02) boosted Seville’s confidence. “After Lausanne, I realised nobody’s going to beat me in Tokyo. I didn’t see myself losing at the championship. None at all.”
Oblique Seville wins in Lausanne (© Getty Images)
But just three months before Tokyo, at Jamaica’s National Championships, disaster nearly struck. “On the warm-up track, I felt some tightening in my hamstring,” he recalled. “During my block start for the final, it contracted to the point where I was in pain.”
Unsure whether to run, he raised his hand to withdraw. But after a brief delay – during which Thompson checked on him – Seville received a quick massage and decided to risk it. He ran a composed 9.83 for second, securing his place on the team. “I knew I would become the world champion from that moment,” he said.
Lessons in gold
Seville’s Tokyo success reaffirmed Jamaica’s sprinting tradition and his belief in resilience. Still, he left Japan slightly unsatisfied after the men’s 4x100m team – with cousin Ackeem Blake, Thompson and Ryiem Forde – missed gold. “Honestly, I can’t hide my feelings,” he said. “The talent we had, we should have won, but we didn’t get enough time to practice. We didn’t have the chemistry of the Bolt generation. We’ll soon get the synergy.”
Oblique Seville and Kishane Thompson in the 100m final at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 (© Getty Images)
Next up is the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest. “I feel a sense of duty to continue Jamaica’s rich sprinting legacy,” he said.
From rural St Thomas to the top of the world, Oblique Seville’s journey has been one of persistence, patience and belief. And, as his motto reminds him – to ‘be unique’ – he has done just that.
Noel Francis for World Athletics
