Usain Bolt had his say on who he believes will become sprinting’s next king (Image: Getty)
Usain Bolt believes Oblique Seville is the sprinter finally capable of smashing his 100 metre world record. The eight-time Olympic gold medallist – who set the fastest 100m time ever in 9.58 seconds at the 2009 World Athletics Championship in Berlin – has comfortably held that record since setting it.
The likes of Yohan Blake and Tyson Gay have come somewhat close, having clocked 9.69sec in 2009 and 2012, but the 11-time World Championships winner’s record remains untouchable to this day. Despite the emergence of Olympic champion Noah Lyles, Kishane Thompson and Fred Kerley, none of those three supremo sprinters were named by Bolt when he discussed who he thinks can break his long-standing record.
While Australian starlet Gout Gout – who has broken a number of Bolt’s teenage world records – and 15-year-old Brit Divine Iheme are expected to join the tremendous level of sprinters at the top level, it was Seville, 23, who was namechecked by the Jamaican icon as next up to rule as king of the sprint.
“I feel like Oblique can do it,” Bolt told The Fix Podcast. “If he can stay fit during the season and get it right, I feel he can do it, because I am sure there is something there, the ability to do it.”
Bolt said Seville’s fragility could work against him in attempting to best his record but he believes that time is coming.
He added: “Some of the time Oblique can be fragile. It’s a matter of the work situation or whatever, 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.”
The 23-year-old sprinter has a fan in Usain Bolt (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Seville, 23, has been progressing in the sprinting ranks throughout the years. After impressing in Jamaica’s 2020 Olympic Trials, where he finished third in the event, Seville has been earmarked as one of Jamaica’s next best athletes as Bolt offered his advice in what he needs to do to reach the very top of the sport.
“He’s the master and he just needs to find the right season, stay clean and do the right thing, and if the coach believes him and the coach says. It’s just that he needs to put it all together,” the 38-year-old said.
Seville may have finished last in the 2024 Olmypic 100m final but that experience certainly served him well considering he recently defeated Lyles in the Racers Grand Prix in Jamaica, where he clocked an impressive time of 9.82sec.
He also trains under iconic coach Glen Mills, who worked alongside Bolt during his historic track career.