Oblique Seville ends Jamaica’s wait for Men’s 100m Gold, 10 years after Usain Bolt
Oblique Seville produced the race of his life in Tokyo to win the men’s 100 metres world title, becoming the first Jamaican sprinter since Usain Bolt to claim a global crown in the event. The World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 delivered a new sprint king on Sunday (14) as Seville stormed to victory in a personal best of 9.77 seconds (0.3m/s).
His compatriot Kishane Thompson, this year’s world leader, had to settle for silver in 9.82 seconds, while defending champion Noah Lyles of the United States clocked 9.89 for bronze. The result sparked scenes of celebration in the Japan National Stadium, where Bolt himself watched on from the stands, roaring with delight as his successor crossed the line.
Bolt’s presence and Jamaica’s sprint legacy
Jamaica has long been the home of sprinting greatness, and Seville’s triumph marked the nation’s first men’s world 100m gold since Bolt’s Rio 2016 Olympic title. The symbolism of Bolt being present, paraded earlier in the evening before the packed crowd, added weight to the moment.
“I feel really amazing and excited that the gold is coming home to Jamaica,” said the 24-year-old Seville. “I have proved that I am a true competitor, that I have the determination of a champion.”
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Going into the championships, most eyes were on Thompson, who had clocked 9.75 seconds earlier this season the fastest 100m time in a decade. But when it mattered, it was Seville who executed his race to perfection.
He burst out of the blocks, maintained his form, and finished with a surge that has often eluded him in previous seasons. “Finishing strong in the last 30 to 40 metres was something I struggled with all year,” he admitted. “This time I perfected it, and I was confident that if I did it in the final, I would win.”
Lyles takes Bronze, Tebogo disqualified
While Seville celebrated, there was heartbreak for others. American star Noah Lyles, who had declared himself in the “best form of his life” before the race, salvaged bronze but looked visibly disappointed.
Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, the Olympic 200m champion and world 100m silver medallist in Budapest two years ago, was disqualified for a false start. Kenny Bednarek, another strong contender, stumbled at the start and never recovered, finishing outside the medals.
A Jamaican 1-2 and Bolt’s approval
Bolt had predicted a Jamaican 1-2 before the final, and his words proved prophetic. As Seville and Thompson crossed the line ahead of Lyles, the legendary sprinter erupted in cheers from his VIP box.
The stadium soon echoed with Bob Marley’s “Buffalo Soldier”, as fans draped in green, yellow, and black flags celebrated. Seville ripped open his sprint suit and beat his chest, echoing the kind of showmanship once owned by Bolt himself.
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For Seville, the victory not only cements his place in Jamaican track history but also signals the arrival of a new generation. While Thompson’s form suggests he will remain a formidable rival, Seville’s breakthrough shows Jamaica once again has the depth to dominate the global sprint stage.
With Bolt watching and celebrating, it was as though the torch had officially been passed.
SportsLigue