Seville Sparks Jamaican Men’s Sprint Renaissance

Jamaica’s Oblique Seville, who finally fulfilled his promise by winning the men’s World 100 metres title on Sunday, had the perfect inspiration while growing up – sprinting legend Usain Bolt, whom he fondly describes as “my motivator”.

Seville clocked an astonishing 9.77 seconds to defeat high-profile rivals such as American Noah Lyles – the reigning world and Olympic champion – and fellow Jamaican Kishane Thompson at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

For the 24-year-old, however, this victory did not come as a shock. His entire life has been rooted in athletics, and with Bolt playing the role of a father figure offering advice on sprinting and life, Seville was destined to excel.

Seville had long been seen as the “nearly man” of global sprinting. Despite beating Lyles twice in the Diamond League this season, he had yet to prove himself on the biggest stage.

• Tokyo Olympics (Covid-delayed, 2021): Reached semi-finals
• World Championships 2022 & 2023: Finished 4th place both times

Reflecting on those disappointments, Seville told AFP: “All the guys I competed with are very strong, so I had to maximise what I could do. Every year I also lost fitness due to injury issues. So I was not really at full fitness.”

This year, with health and preparation on his side, Seville seized his opportunity.

Raised in Ness Castle, a rural community with poor roads, Seville’s childhood was shaped by a love of sport. At Calabar High School, he played cricket and football, and swam in rivers before discovering his true calling in athletics.

“It was so much fun because I got to experiment with different sports. Track and field was the one for me,” he recalled.

Central to his journey has been Usain Bolt. Today, Seville is coached by Glen Mills, the mastermind behind Bolt’s glittering career, which included 11 world titles and 8 Olympic golds.

• “We all watched Usain Bolt as kids,” Seville said.
• “I always hoped Coach Mills would be my coach one day. Now he is, and it’s such a happy feeling. He’s a very intelligent man.”

Bolt, though retired, still visits training sessions, often speaking with Mills and mentoring the young sprinters.

“He advised me to find something that motivates me. For him, it was family. For me, my family always wanted me to succeed. Since my father passed away, Usain has been my motivator.”

Before Seville’s triumph, the last Jamaican man to win a global sprint title was Bolt in 2015, leaving a decade-long drought. Seville had long predicted that a new wave of Jamaican sprinters – including Ackeem Blake, Kishane Thompson, and himself – would bring the island nation back to dominance.

Seville, looking ahead, is confident about the future:“We have a great level. We are under 25 years old, while most US athletes are over 25. In the future, we are going to be on top again.”

With Seville’s victory, Jamaica’s sprinting legacy – once defined by Bolt – appears firmly back on track, signalling the dawn of a new golden generation.