Usain Bolt poses challenge to Kishane Thompson and Oblique

Usain Bolt has revealed how Kishane Thompson, Oblique Seville and other Jamaican sprinters can inherit his crown as the greatest sprinter of all time.

Jamaican sprint icon Usain Bolt has thrown down the gauntlet to Kishane Thompson and Oblique Seville, urging them to aim for greatness if they hope to inherit his title as the greatest sprinter of all time and restore Jamaica’s dominance on the global stage.

Bolt, whose world records and eight Olympic gold medals remain unmatched, shared his advice during an episode of Sprint. Reflecting on the immense pressure of following in his footsteps, he said:”If you are coming after someone that has set the bar high, it is going to be hard, but that is what we have to do as athletes.

“You have to set the bar higher to make them sprint for the stars. You want them to be better than you, but if you are going to beat me, you have to be really great.”

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Kishane Thompson, the reigning Olympic 200m silver medalist, has already showcased his potential. His blistering 9.77-second performance at the 2024 Jamaican Olympic Trials sent shockwaves through the sprinting world.

In Paris, Thompson tied with American Noah Lyles in the 100m final, both clocking 9.79 seconds, but settled for silver.

Thompson credits Bolt’s legendary 2008 Olympic performance, where he set a world record of 9.68 seconds, as the inspiration behind his sprinting ambitions.

“I got a feeling like no other—the goosebumps and thrill of seeing a human being reach that height, a pinnacle of greatness. I knew that I should aspire to be greater than that,” Thompson shared.

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Oblique Seville, trained by Bolt’s former coach Glen Mills, has faced a tougher road. Despite consistent top-tier performances, he has yet to medal at a global championship, and he finished a dissapointing eigth at the Olympics.

His fourth-place finishes at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene and the 2023 event in Budapest highlight his near-misses.

Bolt, however, remains confident in Seville’s potential:”I think over the past years, it [Jamaica’s male sprinting] has been struggling, but I do think that Oblique has been keeping it alive.”

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Jamaica has not claimed a men’s Olympic 100m medal since Bolt’s retirement in 2017. Bolt believes Seville could be the athlete to break that drought, adding, “These athletes represent our chances, but it is all about execution.”

Both Thompson and Seville face high expectations, but with Bolt’s guidance and their undeniable talent, they have the opportunity to redefine Jamaica’s sprinting legacy.

Whether through Thompson’s electrifying speed or Seville’s resilience, the journey to “sprint for the stars” has only just