Imagine being so epic that you get compared to a natural phenomenon- a lightning “bolt”, such is the legacy of Jamaican sprinter, Usain Bolt. The retired Olympic champion nonchalantly set the 100m world record -9.58s- in 2009 at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin, and 16 years later, the record remains as it is. Track and field athletes like Yohan Blake and Tyson Gay came close, both clocking in at 9.69s in 2009 and 2012 respectively, but to no avail. Can the sprinting legend never be dethroned? Well, he thinks otherwise.

On a recent episode of The Fix podcast, Bolt named Oblique Seville as his Jamaican heir in the world of sprinting. “I feel like Oblique can do it. If he can stay fit during the season and get it right, I feel he can do it, because I am sure there is something there, the ability to do it. Some of the time Oblique can be fragile. It’s a matter of the work situation or whatever, 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.” To be identified as the successor of the man, the myth, and the legend that is Usain Bolt? That is some achievement for sure. Well, Seville is surely doing something right!

The 23-year-old first gained international recognition in 2021 finishing third behind Tyqendo Tracey and Yohan Blake at the 2020 Jamaican Olympic Trials. Fast forward to 2024, in December he was signed by the Grand Slam Track and is part of the same roster that includes names like Gabby Thomas and Alexis Holmes.  “He’s the master and he just needs to find the right season, stay clean and do the right thing, and if the coach believes him and the coach says. It’s just that he needs to put it all together,” Bolt further stated. The world record holder’s confidence in Seville is evident, and why wouldn’t it be? After all, the budding sprinter has adequately proved himself lately. His biggest moment came at the recent Racers Grand Prix in Jamaica, where he defeated reigning 100m world champion Noah Lyles with a world-leading time of 9.82 seconds.

Seville’s connection with Bolt runs deep as he trains under Glen Mills, the legendary coach who guided the 38-year-old throughout his illustrious career. Jamaica has dominated sprinting for over a decade, and now the country has struggled to find a new champion since Usain Bolt’s departure. The nation has failed in the medal in the men’s 100 meters at the past three World Championships and the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. With Seville’s emergence, hopes are high that he can restore Jamaica’s dominance on the global stage. Usain Bolt believes Seville could become the world’s next fastest man, but with the American sprinting sensation, Noah Lyles in attendance, it is easier said than done.

Usain Bolt Reacts to Noah Lyles’ Performance

Bolt while appearing on the same podcast also weighed in on the ongoing debate about the World’s fastest man, a title that is often attributed to Noah Lyles. “I find it funny. When I heard it for the first time, I wondered if I’d lost my mind. That’s desperate. That’s the first thing that I thought. I was like, come on, man, if you want it, then earn it, man. Earn it, earn it. You are the fastest man today. This year. It’s something I just laugh off,” Bolt commented on The Fix podcast.

2023 was the year of the Florida native. He widely earned a name as a top sprinter after winning the 100- and 200-meter races at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest. The numbers at Budapest were impressive- 9.83 for 100m and 19.52 for 200m. His dominance continued at the Paris Olympics, where he won gold in the 100-meter dash, clocking in at 9.79, becoming the first American to achieve this feat since Justin Gatlin in 2004.

However, statistics suggest Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo recorded a faster stretch in the 100m than Lyles. During the men’s 200-meter final, Tebogo ran from the 30-meter mark to the 100m in a final time of 9.79 seconds, significantly faster than Lyles’ 100m final time of 9.79 seconds. This highlights the importance of a strong start in the 100m event, as reaction times are crucial in determining the final results. However, by many accounts, Noah Lyles remains a winner. On Feb 2, clocking in at 6.52, the 27-year-old won the 60m dash at the New Balance Grand Prix in Boston. What’s more? it was the Olympic champion’s fourth consecutive win in the event. Now that’s something!

While Lyles continues to dominate the global sprinting scene, Bolt remains focused on the future of Jamaican athletics. His endorsement of Oblique Seville suggests that the next great Jamaican sprinter may be on the horizon. With the right training, discipline, and a bit of luck, Seville could soon establish himself as the rightful successor to Bolt’s throne.