'I Feel So Bad' - Oblique Seville Addresses the Misconception That Frustrates Him Most

Oblique Seville has opened up about what fans often get wrong about him, sharing how his Tokyo World Championships victory finally set the record straight.

Oblique Seville has addressed a common misconception fans have about him, hoping his World Athletics Championships win in Tokyo finally sets the record straight.

Last month in Tokyo, the 24-year-old captured Jamaica's first men's 100m world title since the legendary Usain Bolt over a decade ago.

In his fourth global final, Oblique Seville delivered the performance of a lifetime, storming past his compatriot Kishane Thompson and American world champion Noah Lyles to claim the gold.

Oblique Seville's reaction to the starting gun was lightning-fast, allowing him to surge ahead of the pack. He crossed the line in a personal best of 9.77 seconds, a new Japanese all-comers' record that also matched Bolt's 2013 World Championship time.

Kishane Thompson followed for silver in 9.82, with Noah Lyles, the defending champion, taking bronze in 9.89.

Oblique Seville: I Had to Prove to Those Who Felt I Struggled Under Pressure

However, the race was not without its challenges. "When the gun went, I said ‘yes, I got the start’, but my transition phase was not great and I realised Kishane was getting away from me," he said in an interview with World Athletics.

"I lifted my head early and started running. As I approached the finish line, I had passed everyone."

After years of near misses, the victory brought profound relief, finally allowing him to show what he is truly capable of.

Oblique Seville had finished last in the Olympic final a year prior and narrowly missed the podium with fourth-place finishes at the 2022 and 2023 World Championships. His passionate post-race celebration was a direct message to his critics.

"I can’t blame the Jamaican fans. I had to prove to those who felt I struggled under pressure that it’s never the case. I’ve just been unfortunate with injuries," he added.

“When I hear people say I have a mental problem, I feel so bad. It’s like being wrongfully charged. I decided I was not going to settle for just a medal, I’m going for gold.”

Oblique Seville: The Journey to the Top

Hailing from Ness Castle, St Thomas, Oblique Seville's introduction to sprinting was a memorable one. At the Primary Schools All-Island finals, he mistook the 70m hurdles mark for the finish line.

"After leading comfortably... I dipped for the line and stopped, only to see everyone continuing," he recalled. "I ran off again and eventually finished seventh."

His journey continued through Holmwood Technical before a pivotal transfer to the famed Calabar High School.

After sitting out a year due to transfer regulations, he trained alongside a formidable group of sprinters, honing his craft.

By 2019, he was a force to be reckoned with, winning the U19 'Champs' title with a blistering 10.13, just shy of the record.

After injury and the pandemic disrupted his 2020 season, Seville joined Glenn Mills' Racers Track Club. Under the guidance of the man who coached Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake, his career was reignited.

In May 2022, he finally broke the 10-second barrier with a 9.86 run, a moment he considers one of his best races alongside his Tokyo triumph.

What Next for Oblique Seville?

While Oblique Seville's individual gold reaffirmed Jamaica's sprinting legacy, he left Tokyo with a sense of unfinished business.

The men's 4x100m relay team, which included his cousin Ackeem Blake, failed to secure the top spot. "Honestly, I can’t hide my feelings," he said.

"The talent we had, we should have won, but we didn’t get enough time to practice. We didn’t have the chemistry of the Bolt generation. We’ll soon get the synergy."

Next on the agenda for the new world champion is the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest next year, where he aims to build on his recent success.