Oblique Seville sprints into a 100 m gold in Tokyo-and thus brings his idol Usain Bolt to freak out.
The cameras ran, the athletics world listened – but Oblique Seville spoke above all to one: Usain Bolt. “Before his eyes, I proved that I am a champion,” said the new 100 m world champion from Jamaica proud. The fact that the biggest sprinter in history had witnessed his magical moment of Tokyo live, weighed almost more than the title itself.
Seville, who was considered a big promise for a long time and always failed, in Japan with his 9.77 seconds in the huge footsteps of his model-and by the way, and also ended the caribil’s dry spell, which, according to the Bolt era, had to wait ten years for a new Jamaican World Cup champion in the royal discipline.
“Many people say that I panic. I don’t know what they’re talking about,” said Seville with a view to his recent finals. Fourth at the 2022 World Cup in Eugene, fourth at the 2023 World Cup in Budapest, last in the Olympic final of Paris 2024. Now he was at the top. He hoped, said Seville in the direction of his doubters, “that they realize that Oblique Seville is actually competitive and a fighter.”
Bolt saw the potential of the 24-year-old, who only “measures” small 1.70 m for a sprinter, even before the gold run from Tokyo. In any case, the world recordman demonstrated a good nose: the 39-year-old had predicted a Jamaican double victory that Seville led to his compatriot and world year best Kishane Thompson. Defending champion and Olympic champion Noah Lyles only remained third, the US initiative over 100 m has ended.
Bolt, who was on site for the first time in eight years, and Seville have a special relationship. In Glen Mills, the new World Cup champion has the same trainer as Bolt on his way to eight Olympic wins, eleven World Cup titles and the fabulous world record of 9.58 seconds.
“His trainer is also my trainer and I know that both are very proud of me,” said Seville. “Athletics is both a mental and a physical challenge. But to be honest, I think I have mastered the mental part. Now I want to do more gold medals!”
And maybe in the future Bolt’s best brand from Berlin – at least the sprint icon believes that. “I have the feeling that Oblique can do it,” said Bolt: “If he stays fit during the season and everything comes together correctly, I think he can.”