Justin Gatlin Agrees With Usain Bolt on Key Thing Oblique Seville Must Fix to Finally Floor Noah Lyles and Co

Jamaican sprinter Oblique Seville delivered a statement performance on Saturday by edging out Olympic champion Noah Lyles in the men’s 100m at the 2025 London Diamond League meet.

Seville clocked an impressive 9.86 seconds, comfortably ahead of Lyles, who finished second in 10.00 flat. 

The win not only reaffirmed Seville's growing dominance on the track but also further validated the belief that he could be next in line to challenge the longstanding 100m world record.

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Since breaking through the scene in 2021, Seville has competed in all major championship 100 meter finals, but consistently failed to podium, with injuries often curtailing his progression, including in the 2024 Olympics final.

He had ran himself through the rounds properly and even beat Noah Lyles in the semis, but pulled up during the final, finishing last on 9.91 seconds.

Among his loudest backers is none other than Usain Bolt, the eight-time Olympic gold medalist and world record holder in both the 100m and 200m. Bolt, who has repeatedly voiced his support for Seville, said earlier this year on The Fix podcast:

“Oblique can do it. If he can stay fit through the season and get it right, he can do it because I’m sure there’s something there — the ability to do it.”

While acknowledging Seville’s susceptibility to injuries, Bolt added:

“Some of the time Oblique can be fragile... 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 victory over Lyles is particularly significant given that the American sprinter has also been endorsed by Bolt in the past as a potential threat to his 200m record. Bolt had once said of Lyles:

“If he corrects a few things, he could get better.”

Now, Seville’s form suggests he might be pulling ahead in that informal race to succeed Bolt’s sprinting legacy.

Retired American sprinter Justin Gatlin, a former Olympic champion and world champion, also weighed in on Seville's rising stock on his Ready Set Go podcast — echoing Bolt’s sentiments on importance of smart race management over flashy semi-final times.

“Looking at the size of him and how his stature compares to the times he runs — yes, it’s very impressive. I love that he can go out there and do that, ” Gatlin said of the 5 ft 6 inches tall athlete.

“What we’re looking for now is whether he can do it when it counts. Can he navigate through the rounds and still have enough in the tank for the finals?

“Trust me, I’ve been down that road before — you don’t need to burn out in the semis. Just make sure you qualify, save energy, and handle business in the final.”

Gatlin, who knows a thing or two about championship racing,including his 2015 experience where he lost the 100m title to Usain Bolt for overexerting himself in the semis,  stressed the importance of conserving energy between rounds, noting the short recovery window and time-consuming pre-race protocols.

“If Oblique can manage the prelims, the semis, and then handle business in the finals, I don’t see why he wouldn’t be on top of that podium.”

With the Tokyo World Championships looming, Oblique Seville appears poised to make the most of his moment. And if both Bolt and Gatlin agree on one thing — it’s that his time may be just around the corner.