When Oblique Seville edged out Kishane Thompson and Noah Lyles to claim 100m gold at the Tokyo World Championships, he didn’t just win, he made history. He became the first Jamaican since Usain Bolt in Rio to top the 100m podium and end a nine-year drought. But now the question lingers: can Seville maintain this meteoric form? And, recently, Anderson Emerole and Coach Rob tackled this very question on their podcast.

When Coach Rob opened up the discussion about winning gold and maintaining the lead, he pointed out that while Seville might have secured the title, his rivals could easily catch up in the near future. Anderson Emerole backed that claim, saying, “He ran 9.7, the other guys ran 9.8. So, it was a sizable enough win where it’s like, all right, he convincingly won, but the other guys are still close enough, and it’s still kind of up in the air, like, okay, Kishane could come back and win a gold medal at some point. ‘Cause let’s not forget Oblique—this is the fourth time that Oblique has been in the final.”

Throughout history, countless athletes have claimed gold in the 100m, but only a few names shine as legends: Carl Lewis, Maurice Greene, Usain Bolt, Justin Gatlin, and, in the modern era, Noah Lyles. What sets them apart isn’t just raw speed; it’s the rare ability to maintain it over time. Speed can be fleeting, but sustaining it for years? That’s the true challenge.

Chiming in, Coach Rob pointed out that since the departure of Usain Bolt from the track and field scene, no one has captured multiple gold medals quite like Noah Lyles. And he wasn’t just talking about World Championships, he meant golds, period. Lyles bagged the 100m gold at the 2023 Budapest Worlds, followed it up with another at the Paris Olympics, and later added a 200m gold at the 2025 Tokyo Worlds. But for Seville, this marks his very first taste of gold.

He further expressed that Seville has the skills, but where he might lack is the consistency, “Oblique has the talent, we know this. But when we talk about multiple golds—’cause now we’re leaving Noah and them—we’re now thinking about the historic history of the last 20 to 30 years. You have to have a different level of talent. When I say different, you have to have what I call a skill gap.” Both Coach Rob and Anderson Emerole believe that consistency is crucial for Seville, considering his opponents are not to be underestimated.

Oblique’s compatriot Kishane Thompson has been giving Noah Lyles a tough challenge and currently holds the fastest time this season, clocking 9.75 seconds at the Jamaican Championships in Kingston. Meanwhile, Kenny Bednarek recorded a season-best of 9.79 seconds on August 1, 2025, at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

Noah Lyles, on the other hand, has been going through a rough phase this year due to a tendon injury that delayed his season. He only started competing in July, but despite the setback, he managed to clinch bronze in the 100m and gold in the 200m at the Tokyo Worlds. All in all, Oblique’s opponents have consistently been winning medals and achieving personal bests. However, while the experts believe Seville might have a tough time, a young athlete would beg to differ.

Bayanda Walaza believes Oblique Seville has the edge over his competitors

On the twelfth episode of Puma’s Go Wild Podcast, the South African sprint sensation revealed a surprising choice when asked which athlete, past or present, he’d love to train with. He answered Oblique Seville. The host’s eyebrows shot up in surprise, prompting the question, “Why him?” The 19-year-old didn’t skip a beat, praising Seville as the most complete runner of his generation, “Okay. Surely, I believe he’s one of the best athletes that I’ve seen. He has a good start and actually a fast first finish. And most of the time, as we grow up, knowing that, okay, you need to have one that you rely on,” he explained.

He added, “But Seville can start fast and still end fast, and the same as Usain Bolt. Usain Bolt had a bad start. It was not bad, because if you check the times, yeah, you know, he runs fast, he runs fast. But when you look at him running with people, you can say that, okay, this is not a strong point, but his finish is better. Noah Lyles, his start, finish. Coleman is, best starter in the world. Not always the best finish. But Seville has all of that. And I’m kind of wondering, how is it actually possible, you know, to be good with your start and fast finish.”

Walaza believes that Seville currently boasts one of the best starts and finishes in the sport, while his competitors lag behind. However, the reality might be a bit different as compared to what the coaches predicted. Regardless, it will be fascinating to see if Seville can truly maintain that edge under pressure. What are your thoughts?