In a dramatic turn at the Athletissima Lausanne Diamond League meet on August 20, 2025, Jamaican sprinter Oblique Seville stunned the track world by defeating Olympic 100 m champion Noah Lyles under torrential rain conditions. Seville crossed the finish line in a remarkable 9.87 seconds, an impressive time considering the weather and just .01 slower than his London victory last month .
From the gun, Seville sprinted with precision and authority, immediately distancing himself from Lyles, whose reaction off the blocks proved costly. Lyles, visibly hampered by a poor start, trailed behind but still managed to secure second place with a 10.02 effort—a time shared with Ackeem Blake for third .
Braving relentless rain and standing water, Seville’s performance shone. “We can perform even in hurricanes,” he remarked confidently, emphasizing execution and asserting his dominance over the field . With this win, Seville has now defeated Lyles twice in 2025—first in London and again in Lausanne—cementing himself as a serious threat heading into the upcoming World Championships in Tokyo .
Noah Lyles, meanwhile, attributed the loss to a poor launch off the blocks. “I just had a horrible reaction to the gun,” he admitted, though he remained optimistic about his recovery and future performances. “Physically I feel great, and I am confident every race will get better and better.” .
The weather conditions under which this race unfolded were far from ideal—even causing disruption in field events. The women’s pole vault had to be canceled, and many female field competitors struggled to register even a valid performance in the downpour .
Yet, despite the soggy atmosphere, the evening belonged to Seville. According to Athletics Weekly, his feat was particularly noteworthy, given that runners rarely thrive in such adverse conditions. The time of 9.87 was delivered into a slight headwind, making it even more impressive . Sports outlets like Reuters and the Sports Examiner praised Seville’s victory, noting his growing confidence and potential to challenge the sprinting elite .
This showdown signifies more than just a race—it marks a shifting dynamic in men’s 100 m competition. Though Lyles remains the Olympic champion and a multiple world champion, Seville’s repeated victories are drawing attention, suggesting a burgeoning rivalry that could define the upcoming World Championships in Tokyo.
Seville himself seemed to recognize the larger narrative. He expressed belief not only in his own capabilities but in his potential to reestablish Jamaican dominance in global sprinting—a legacy punctuated last by Usain Bolt’s Rio 2016 triumph
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