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This past Sunday, Oblique Seville achieved a milestone by emerging as the initial athlete from Jamaica to claim the men’s 100m global championship since the iconic Usain Bolt. However, it turns out his thinking is just as sharp as his blistering speed on the track.

Creating the Perfect Sprinter

When asked about how he would build the ultimate sprinter, Seville responded instantly. Rather than naming attributes from multiple runners, his reply was immediate and clear: “Bolt.”

“No one has ever matched anyone such as him,” stated Seville. “However I would combine his closing phase of the sprint and my acceleration. That way you would create the flawless sprinter.”

Differing Opinions on Today’s Talent

Yet, Seville disagrees with his hero’s view on one important issue. Recently, the retired champion claimed that the present era of runners lacks the talent to achieve the 100m in under 9.7 seconds.

Seville, who clocked a career-fastest of 9.77 seconds, disagreed.

“In my opinion it’s just a question of when before an athlete runs 9.6 seconds,” he said. “I don’t think we are far off in this era. It just takes time. Because it’s important to remember it was the identical back then.

“No one was running 9.6 until Usain Bolt made history in Beijing. Therefore it’s up to us today, as a rising generation, to meet that level. To show that we can do the same thing as Usain did.”

Contrasting Backgrounds, Shared Coach

The two island-born athletes could hardly be more distinct in build. Bolt measured over 195cm and weighed approximately 14 stone, whereas Seville is under 170cm and only 11st 6lb.

Seville also spoke about his beliefs, saying he gets ready for races by studying the Bible, which provides him “great peace of mind.” Bolt, on the other hand, had a very different approach.

But both athletes share the identical coach: Glen Mills. It was, Mills always was confident that Seville could follow Bolt and rise as the quickest man in the world.

“I knew I was quick when I was six,” recalled Seville. “I was running against kids larger than me and I was extremely competitive. So I showed it early on.

“When I started working with my mentor, he told me it would take a some time to get to the winner’s circle. And whatever he predicts happens. His words came true for me and now I stand as a gold medallist.”

Psychological Strength and Determination

Since Bolt retired in 2017, the title of world champion has been passed around several times. Today, Seville aims to retain it.

However, he acknowledges that remaining at the top is not easy.

“I possess the mentality. But injuries are inevitable in the sport,” he stated. “And because of my height and size, I must not make even one mistake. I have to ensure each detail I do is perfect.”

That same mental strength helped him brush off mind games from rivals before the final.

“That didn’t bother me,” he said. “Because over the years, I realised that Noah is will act like himself. And he’s going to talk.

“I respect that. It adds excitement for the sport. It might work on some athletes, though not me. I came to the world championship for a single goal: to take the gold medal.”

And, he did just that.