Seville stunned a stacked 100m field that included Noah Lyles on his London Diamond League debut on Saturday, but Usain Bolt has already revealed what he can do to get even better.
On Saturday, Oblique Seville edged out Noah Lyles in the 100m at the 2025 London Diamond League on Saturday.
Seville, a Jamaican compatriot of Usain Bolt -who has already backed him more than once – , clocked a winning time of 9.86 seconds, leaving Lyles trailing with a time of 10 seconds flat.
This isn’t the first time Bolt, the eight-time Olympic gold medalist and world record holder in both the 100m and 200m, has expressed his admiration for Seville.
Earlier this year, Bolt predicted Seville had the potential to break his 100m world record, stating on The Fix podcast, “Oblique can do it. If he can stay fit through the season and get it right, he can do it because I’m sure there’s something there, the ability to do it.”
Bolt acknowledged Seville’s occasional struggles with injuries, adding, “Some of the time Oblique can be fragile… but if he’s doing enough work, he can do it. It’s a matter of time because he’s not missed the finals yet, so it’s just to get over the hump.”
Kishane Thompson Voices Concern Despite Relay Win in London
Kishane Thompson Voices Concern Despite Relay Win in London
Lyles, the current Olympic 100m champion, had previously received Bolt’s endorsement as a potential challenger to his 200m record. “I think the possibility is there,” Bolt had said before the Paris Olympics. “If he corrects a few things, he could get better.”
However, Lyles’ recent performances haven’t lived up to those expectations. He took bronze in the 200m at the World Championships in Paris, finishing behind Kenneth Bednarek and Letsile Tebogo. His second-place finish in London further underscores the challenge he faces in reaching Bolt’s legendary marks.
Following his victory in London, a jubilant Seville commented, “I am proud of how I ran amongst a stacked field, and to win. I was the only one to run under 10 seconds today, it is something special and phenomenal heading into a major championship later this year.”
Looking ahead to the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo this September, Seville added, “Everything I have been practising in training, I delivered out there today.
“Coming out here and performing against these athletes makes me want to push a little harder. London is the place I wanted to run, so to get the Diamond League win here is very special to me.”
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