Usain Bolt Backs Jamaicans to Beat Lyles in Tokyo: “They Should Be 1-2”

The “Ultimate Legend” for the Tokyo Athletics World Championships, Usain Bolt, weighed in on the chances of Kishane Thompson and Oblique Seville. “They’re really doing extremely well, so it’s just all about execution,” he said, while also expressing confidence that no one can break his immortal 9.58s world record. “I’m not worried.”

Usain Bolt represents Puma on ambassadorial duty in Tokyo (Photo: Contributed)

11-time world champion and immortal world record holder in the 100m and 200m, Usain Bolt, is currently in Tokyo on ambassadorial duty for longtime sponsors Puma and World Athletics. Following the recent announcement naming him the Ultimate Legend for the upcoming Ultimate Championships, Bolt insisted on Thursday that change is on the horizon in Tokyo, and Jamaica can look forward to securing its first world sprint title since 2015.

Bolt weighed in on the chances of Jamaica’s current sprint stars Kishane Thompson, who holds the world-leading 9.75 seconds this season, and Oblique Seville, who finished fourth in the 100m at the last World Championships and has already beaten American Noah Lyles twice over the distance this year.

"Kishane and Oblique have really shown this season that they're really doing extremely well," Bolt told reporters during a press conference in Japan. "They should be 1-2 at least because they have proven throughout the season that they are at the top and they're running fast times. So it's just all about execution."

Reflecting on his own career, Bolt compared the current U.S.–Jamaica rivalry with his battles against former American rival Justin Gatlin, drawing a parallel with today’s Lyles. "I don't think Noah is as crazy as dealing with Justin (Gatlin), so for me it's no different," he said.

Known for his cool approach in high-pressure events, the sprint legend advised Thompson and Seville to "just not listen to the noise."

At 39, Bolt also expressed confidence that his 100m world record of 9.58 seconds, set at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, remains safe. “No, I’m not worried,” he said. "I think the talent is there and those who are coming up will do well but, at this present moment, I don't think they will be able to break the world record."