by Deji Ogeyingbo
Deji Ogeyingbo wrote this feature on the winner of the London Diamond League, Oblique Seville. Oblique had a great performance at London, and Deji discusses how Oblique Seville is looking prior to the 2025 Tokyo World Championships.
Oblique Seville is a unique sprinter– but will he finally deliver when it matters
Oblique Seville continues to divide opinions on his ability to deliver when the ovation is loudest. No one doubts the incredible talent he has as a sprinter. After all, he’s training under the great Glen Mills- the man who guided Usain Bolt to unprecedented heights. However, it seems like an antithesis to the Bolt’s ability to show up under the bright lights; it just always doesn’t seem to click for Seville when it matters the most.
Since emerging on the international scene, Seville has shown the ability to run with the elites. His races reveal a sprinter capable of moments that are electric, effortless even. When he finds his rhythm, he moves with a fluid grace that captivates fans and critics alike. Still, there has been a recurring pattern of falling short when the stakes have been highest. This pattern has left track fans wondering if he can convert his potential into consistent major championship success.
The 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest offered a clear example of this. Seville posted a strong time of 9.88 seconds in the final, finishing fourth behind Noah Lyles, who took the win in 9.83. The race was competitive, and Seville was close, but the elusive medal remained out of reach. Just over a year later, the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris seemed to offer another chance for Seville to rise to the occasion. During the semifinal, he showed his class by winning his heat in 9.81, edging out Lyles, who finished second in 9.83. An injury hampered his performance in the final, and he finished eighth with a time of 9.91. The Olympic final gave us an inclination of both his potential and the fine margins that separate victory from disappointment.
Seville’s latest performance at the 2025 London Diamond League was, therefore, a welcome sight. Seville claimed a decisive victory over Olympic champion Noah Lyles, clocking a swift 9.86 seconds. He was the only sprinter to break the 10-second barrier on the day. The win was particularly sweet given the star-studded field, which included Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo and South Africa’s Akani Simbine. Seville had enough time to raise his index finger as he crossed the line. This is a man who looks confident.
His comments after the race were revealing. Seville spoke about the work he had put in during training and how it had paid off. The victory felt like validation for years of effort, and more importantly, it signaled a readiness to compete under pressure. This London win may mark a turning point, a moment when Seville’s talent begins to consistently translate into success on the biggest stages.
For followers of track and field, the narrative of Seville’s career is both familiar and frustrating. He has been a “nearly man” for some time. More like a sprinter who flirts with greatness, runs sub-10 seconds regularly, and challenges top competitors, but who has struggled to close the gap when the spotlight is brightest. His performance in Kingston before last year’s Olympics, where he defeated Lyles with a 9.82, showed his ability to deliver, but those wins have often come in settings with less pressure than the World Championships or Olympic Games.
What separates Seville from legends like Bolt is not his speed, but the ability to perform flawlessly when the whole world is watching. Bolt had a knack for rising to the occasion, for delivering his fastest and most memorable runs in the moments that mattered most. Seville’s path has been more uneven. Yet, the win in London offers hope that he has learned valuable lessons about handling the mental and physical demands of major competition.
There is no doubt that Seville has the tools needed for greatness. His technical form is polished, his start explosive, and his top-end speed impressive. More importantly, he has the support of a coach with a history of guiding athletes to the highest achievements. What remains is the ability to put all these elements together consistently when it counts.
The next major test will come at the World Championships in Tokyo. The race in London served as a crucial indicator of Seville’s form and mindset heading into the season. The fact that he could deliver a victory against a field that included Olympic champions suggests that the pieces might finally be falling into place. It is a sign that Seville’s talent is maturing into championship mettle.
Sprinters often speak of the fine line between success and disappointment. A hundredth of a second can separate a podium finish from obscurity. In this sport, confidence can be as decisive as speed. Seville’s recent win, therefore, is more than a race won but a statement about his readiness to seize the moments he has sometimes let slip away.
