Jamaica’s rising sprint sensation Oblique Seville recently disclosed the strategic approach that helped him outpace Noah Lyles at the 2025 Tokyo World Championships.
After clinching the 100m title at the prestigious global event, Seville pinpointed a key weakness in Lyles that played a pivotal role in his stunning victory in Tokyo.
At just 24 years old, Seville ended Jamaica’s ten-year wait for a 100m world champion, a milestone last reached by Usain Bolt when he secured gold in Beijing 2015. In an open discussion, Seville revealed the tactics that gave him the upper hand against his formidable American competitor.
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Oblique Seville ended Jamaica’s decade-long wait for a 100m world champion by outpacing Noah Lyles. Image || IMAGO
The rivalry between Seville and Lyles has intensified over the past year. Lyles triumphed in the Olympic 100m final in Paris with a blazing 9.79 seconds, a race where Seville finished in eighth place.
Nevertheless, Seville reversed the outcome at the Tokyo World Championships by setting a personal best of 9.77 seconds, capturing the gold medal. He edged out fellow Jamaican Kishane Thompson, while Lyles settled for bronze with a 9.89-second finish.
This victory crowned Seville as the fastest man on the planet, a distinction previously held by Lyles following his triumph at the 2023 Budapest World Championships.
Oblique Seville claimed the prestigious title of the world’s fastest man by winning the 100m world championship. Image || IMAGO
In a recent conversation, Seville conveyed strong assurance in his capacity to stay ahead of the Olympic champion.
“Noah Lyles is pushing hard to beat me,” Seville shared with Coach’s Deck TV. “When you analyze the race, my start is explosive, and my finish matches Noah’s strength, so overtaking me won’t be simple.”
“My focus remains on my own performance,” he added. “I don’t expend energy scrutinizing other sprinters, but I’m fully conscious of the sport’s demands.”
Although Lyles lost the 100m crown to Seville, he upheld his dominance in the 200m, narrowly securing gold with a time of 19.52 seconds. This marked his fourth consecutive world title in the 200m, tying the legendary Usain Bolt’s record.
Noah Lyles equaled the all-time record by winning his fourth straight 200m world championship.
Looking ahead to the 2026 season and the upcoming World Athletics Ultimate Championships, the intense rivalry between Seville and Lyles is expected to reach new heights, promising electrifying contests as both athletes strive to assert their supremacy on the sport’s grandest platform.