The time is now for Seville

PARIS, France:

For some time Oblique Seville has asked for patience from the Jamaican fanbase, believing that his talent will eventually bear fruit.

Speaking after finishing his training session yesterday as he prepared for competition at his second Olympic Games, Seville said he believes that his time is this year and he hopes to land on the podium after the men’s 100 metres final in Paris.

Seville’s progression since the Tokyo Games has seen him finish fourth in two back-to-back World Championship finals, missing the podium by tenths of a second.

While the landscape of the 100m has changed with the emergence of national champion and world leader Kishane Thompson, Seville said that seeing Thompson’s rise has fuelled his fire as well.

“It motivates me because it is a Jamaican (leading the way this year). I have known Kishane since high school. He is a good athlete and knowing that there is another Jamaican on top motivates me as well,” Seville said.

It is that assurance which has given him the confidence that he, Thompson and Ackeem Blake can do some damage this year in the event.

“The Jamaican trials have shown that our track and field has gone to greater heights. So it is certain that we are going to dominate at the Olympics,” Seville said.

Seville has not been on the circuit but it has not been for a lack of trying. He said the measures were precautionary to recover from issues.

“At the trials, I picked up a little strain and it actually worked in my favour that I booked an appointment with Dr Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt (German sports physician),” Seville said.

“For some reason I have some little niggles that caused me not to come to Europe. I had some races lined up after the trials but due to those niggles I had to focus on getting better. But I am better now.”

At full fitness and without any restraints to hold him back, Seville is looking to finally get a place in the top three.

“My job is to be in the top three but we have to take it in stages. I’ve learnt from my past experiences in Budapest and in Oregon as well. I just have to go and execute because execution is what is going to put me on the podium,” Seville said.