Born on March 16, 2001, in Jamaica, Oblique Seville grew up in a tight-knit household where values of discipline, humility, and ambition were instilled early. Raised primarily by his mother in the Parish of St. Ann, Seville was a quiet, observant child who discovered his love for speed not in a stadium, but while racing his peers barefoot in open fields and school compounds.
Seville comes from a supportive family that saw potential in him long before he gained national recognition. His mother, a devoted single parent, worked hard to ensure her son had a path that would lead to a better future. Though details about his father remain private, Seville often credits his mother and siblings for grounding him during moments of pressure and doubt.
He first started competing in school-level athletics, where coaches quickly noticed his raw sprinting ability. While other kids were playing soccer or cricket, Seville honed his sprinting form on dusty tracks and open roads—laying the foundation for what would become a promising career.
School Days at Calabar High: The Breeding Ground of Champions
Seville’s life changed significantly when he joined Calabar High School, one of Jamaica’s most storied sprint institutions. Known for producing stars like Yohan Blake and Christopher Taylor, Calabar provided Seville with elite coaching, structure, and fierce competition.
Under the mentorship of the school’s seasoned coaches, Seville began refining his technique and gaining confidence. His breakout performance came at Champs (Inter-Secondary Schools Boys and Girls Championships), Jamaica’s prestigious high school athletics competition. His consistent podium finishes put him on the radar of national selectors and international scouts alike.
In 2019, he won silver in the 100 meters at Champs, clocking 10.13 seconds and marking himself as one of the fastest junior sprinters in the world. That same year, he was selected for the World U20 Championships, where he made the finals in the 100 meters, further validating his enormous potential.
Read Also: Beatrice Chebet: Kenya’s Long-Distance Queen of the Track and Cross Country
Transition to Racers Track Club: Guided by Glen Mills
After high school, Oblique Seville was recruited by Racers Track Club, the training ground for some of Jamaica’s greatest sprinting icons, including Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake. There, Seville came under the tutelage of Glen Mills, the legendary coach known for shaping world-beating sprinters.
Coach Mills immediately recognized Seville’s explosive start, fluid stride, and untapped potential. However, it wasn’t just about raw speed. Mills sought to develop Seville mentally and physically for the rigors of senior-level sprinting.
The first few seasons under Racers were a mix of learning, growing, and adjusting to the demands of international competition. Seville’s times steadily improved, but what stood out was his composure under pressure and his work ethic during training.
2021 Tokyo Olympics: Testing the Global Stage
Oblique Seville made his Olympic debut in Tokyo 2021, just months after turning 20. He reached the semi-finals in the 100m, clocking 10.09 seconds—a solid showing for an Olympic first-timer. While he missed the finals, his performance hinted at the firepower he was ready to unleash in the coming years.
More than medals, the Tokyo experience gave Seville exposure to the global stage. He rubbed shoulders with the world’s best sprinters and absorbed the Olympic atmosphere—an invaluable learning moment for a young man with championship ambitions.
Breakthrough in 2022: Fourth Fastest in the World
The 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, marked Seville’s true arrival as a global contender. In a field stacked with big names like Fred Kerley, Marvin Bracy, and Trayvon Bromell, Seville ran a blistering 9.97 seconds in the 100m final, finishing fourth—just 0.04 seconds shy of a medal.
It was a heartbreakingly close finish, but it confirmed what many had suspected: Seville wasn’t just a promising youngster—he was already among the best in the world.
Off the track, he handled the disappointment with maturity, vowing to come back stronger. “He’s learning to control the race mentally,” said coach Glen Mills in a post-race interview. “The experience is just catching up to the talent.”
2023: Jamaican Champion and World Finalist Again
Seville’s growth continued in 2023, as he clinched the Jamaican National 100m Title, clocking 9.89 seconds—his personal best at the time. The win was significant, given Jamaica’s storied sprint history and the high expectations that come with wearing the green, gold, and black.
At the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Seville once again made the finals, clocking 9.86 seconds in the semis—his fastest time ever. In the final, he finished fourth again, narrowly missing out on a medal but reaffirming his place in the sprinting elite.
Twice a world finalist before the age of 23, Seville had now established himself as Jamaica’s top 100m hope in the post-Bolt era.
Read Also: Ferdinand Omanyala: Africa’s Sprint King and Kenya’s Fastest Man in History
Family, Faith, and Focus
Despite his rising fame, Seville remains deeply connected to his family roots. He often credits his mother for her sacrifices and guidance. “Everything I am today is because she believed in me,” he told local media after winning the Jamaican trials in 2023.
He is also close with his siblings, who frequently attend his races and serve as his biggest cheerleaders. Outside of the track, Seville is a devout Christian, often posting Bible verses on social media and attributing his success to divine favor and discipline.
Style and Technique: A Natural Sprinter with More to Give
Seville’s sprinting style is defined by his explosive start, upright form, and powerful drive phase. Unlike many sprinters who rely heavily on top-end speed, Seville excels at maintaining velocity through the second half of the race—a rare quality among young athletes.
His coach, Glen Mills, believes Seville hasn’t even peaked yet. “He’s still learning how to compete when the pressure is highest,” Mills said. “When he puts it all together—start, transition, finish—he’ll be a force that’s hard to beat.”
2025 and Beyond: Olympic Redemption and Championship Dreams
Now in 2025, Oblique Seville is focused squarely on winning his first global medal. With the 2025 World Championships set to take place in Tokyo, a return to the venue of his Olympic debut is shaping up to be a powerful full-circle moment.
Seville is training smarter and harder than ever before. Reports from Racers Track Club suggest he’s working on refining his block starts and improving his reaction time—crucial fractions of a second that could be the difference between fourth place and the podium.
In addition to World Championship goals, Seville is also setting his sights on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where he hopes to cement his legacy as one of the greatest Jamaican sprinters of his generation.
Read Also: Noah Lyles: Sprinting Into History With Swagger, Speed, and Stardom
Legacy in the Making
Oblique Seville’s journey—from barefoot races in St. Ann to world championship finals—is a story of perseverance, potential, and national pride. In a country known for sprinting royalty, he’s carving out a name of his own—not as the next Bolt or Blake, but as Oblique Seville, a name destined to stand tall in Jamaican sprint history.
Still only in his mid-20s, Seville has years of elite sprinting ahead. With family behind him, Glen Mills beside him, and the Jamaican people rallying around him, the question is no longer if Seville will win a global medal—but when.
