Oblique Seville: Top facts to know about the Jamaican sprinter
Oblique Seville is considered the brightest short-sprint star and men's medal prospect to emerge from Jamaica since the Usain Bolt era came to an end in 2017.
Seville raced into global consciousness at the recent Racers Grand Prix in Jamaica where he beat reigning world champion Noah Lyles with a world-leading time of 9.82 seconds.
Shortly before crossing the line, Seville gave a cheeky glance at Lyles finishing second behind him in 9.85s, suggesting a renewal of the US-Jamaica rivalry.
Olympics.com unpacks the top facts you should know about the Jamaican sprinter.
Making a habit of reaching World Champs finals
The 23-year-old Seville made his international breakthrough in 2021 when he finished third behind Tyquendo Tracey and former world champion Yohan Blake at the 2020 Jamaican Olympic Trials. Seville qualified for his maiden Olympic Games at Tokyo 2020 (in 2021) where he fell short of reaching the 100m final. He also featured in the 4x100m relay final where Jamaica finished in fourth place.
His career took off the next year with Seville competing at his first World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, USA, where he made it into the final. Seville finished in a creditable fourth place behind American winner Fred Kerley.
He produced the same result in the 100m final at the 2023 World Championships but clocked a phenomenal personal best of 9.88s – the same time as second and third places finishers, Letsile Tebogo and Zharnel Hughes.
Seville finally got his hands on some international silverware with the Jamaican 4x100m relay team – which also included Ackeem Blake, Ryiem Forde, and Rohan Watson – winning bronze.
A Usain Bolt endorsement, sort of
The Island nation dominated the men's 100m and 200m events at the Olympic Games and World Championships since Bolt won double gold at Beijing 2008. Bolt won the double at three consecutive Olympics before finally hanging up his spikes.
The Jamaican legend ended the United States’ hegemony at the World Championships with his maiden victory in Berlin 2009. At each World Championships until London 2017, a Jamaican earned the podium's top step in both the 100m and 200m.
Following Bolt’s final hurrah in London where he won bronze in the 100m, Jamaica has not made it onto the podium at three World Championships or the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Seville’s exploits over the last two years suggested that Jamaica’s medal drought at the Olympics and World Championships could soon be a thing of the past.
Speaking at Red Stripe’s ‘Guh Fi Gold and Glory’ campaign launch, Bolt mentioned Seville as one who provided some hope that Jamaican sprinting was still alive and kicking.
“I think these athletes represent our chances, but it is all about execution. I think over the past years, it (Jamaica’s male sprinting) has been struggling, but I do think that Oblique has been keeping it alive,” Bolt said, according to Sportsmax.
“He has made all the finals so far; it is just for him to now get in the top three. And I think it's just consistency. I think the one thing with Oblique is that he always gets injured, but hopefully, he can be consistent this season and stay on the right path and he'll be fine.”
The Bolt link
Seville has a strong link to Bolt, with the young Turk training under the tutelage of the eight-time Olympic champion’s former mentor Glen Mills.
Mills rued what he believed was a lost medal at the 2023 World Championships citing Seville’s inexperience after posting a fast time in the first round.
But Mills believed his charge had the potential to make up for his mistakes which would make him a contender come Paris 2024.
“I am pleased with his development. I am pleased that he is developing in the way that I am working towards,” Mills told the Jamaica Observer.
“He is getting stronger, we continue to work on technique, but in terms of where he is, I am quite pleased with his development so far.”
Seville has also garnered the support of Bolt’s mother, Jennifer, who congratulated her ‘second son’ on the track after he beat Lyles in a new personal best time.