Oblique Seville on training with Usain Bolt’s coach and silencing doubters
True to his father’s words, Seville rose to become a medal contender in a competitive men’s field at the last Olympics, as well as recent editions of the World Championships.
He has made a name for himself as one of the most consistent sprinters from Jamaica.
At Paris 2024, he ran a personal best of 9.81. Even though the final result wasn’t what he had hoped for, he showed significant improvement after not qualifying for the Tokyo 2020 final.
With two consecutive fourth-place finishes at the past two world championships, Seville is eager to silence the doubters.
“I now understand that [in life] you have your fans, your haters, and you have spectators,” he said. “In Budapest, no one in my country expected me to even make the finals. But I went out there and showed that I still can manage to be a medal contender.
“Over the years, I have shown my class; it’s just unfortunate that I haven’t got a medal. So, the narrative that’s going to spread is that I have a mental problem going into finals, which is not the case.”
Training under legendary coach Glen Mills, the man who guided Usain Bolt to sprinting supremacy, Seville has made a case for himself whenever he starts.
“Bolt is my idol, and I am now working with his coach,” Seville continued. “He’s brilliant. He knows how to get you ready. And he has proven that over the years with me, over and over, and he has shown it with Bolt and more.”
Seville also revealed how one particular feature of his physique has made his achievements even more special.
“If my coach said that this is what it’s going to be, that’s what it is going to happen. All you need to do is do your part and see what happens.
“Because if you check the statistics, how many athletes with my height run the time that I am running?” asked the 170cm tall (5ft 7 in) athlete, before chuckling at the thought he may well be the fastest and shortest among the current group of elite sprinters.
He also points out that he is one of a very small group of Jamaican sprinters to have broken the 10-second barrier in the 100m before turning 21.