World 100m champion Oblique Seville has revealed the dramatic series of events that almost cost him his victory at the Lausanne Diamond League, where he triumphed over American sprint king Noah Lyles.
The Lausanne meeting, which marked its 50th anniversary in August 2025, was plagued by heavy rain and cool conditions that made life difficult for athletes and organizers alike. Despite the weather, Seville produced a stunning run to claim victory in 9.87 seconds, ahead of Lyles, who finished in 10.02 seconds.
However, the Jamaican star has now revealed that the race almost did not happen for him due to a chaotic buildup. Before the event, Seville realized that he had left his spikes back at the hotel just as the rain began to pour. With time running out, he reached out to his therapist, who managed to retrieve the shoes moments before the race.
In the meantime, Seville was forced to warm up in regular shoes as his competitors prepared on the track. “I was nervous because it felt unprofessional,” he later admitted. “Everyone was striding in their spikes, and I only had my training shoes. I got them back right before the race and barely tested them.”
Despite the stressful situation, Seville managed to mentally turn things around. As he lined up in the rain, he reminded himself that he had already won in his mind and needed to execute the race just as he had in training.
When the gun went off, Seville exploded out of the blocks, quickly finding himself in the lead. Fueled by confidence, he drove through the wet track and even leaned into the finish early in his determination to secure a personal best.
Only later, after rewatching the race, did he realize the magnitude of what he had accomplished under such challenging conditions. The victory, born out of chaos and self-belief, became one of the defining moments of his season.
