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‘Coach Mills is like a father to me’ - World 100m champion underlines instructor’s influence on career
September 16, 2025
TOKYO, Japan:
Following his triumph in the men's 100m at the World Athletics Championships, Oblique Seville says much of his success is owed to the guidance he has received while training under veteran track coach Glen Mills.
Seville led a Jamaican 1-2 finish in the men's 100m final at the Tokyo World Athletics Championships on Sunday, running a personal best 9.77 seconds.
He finished ahead of teammate Kishane Thompson, 9.82, and the United States' Noah Lyles, 9.89.
In an interview after the race, Seville likened his coach as a father figure in his career.
"Coach Mills is like a father to me, I mean, and for all of us. He's a very brilliant man and he taught me a lot about the sport," he said.
Seville said Mills' trust and belief in his potential has played a major role in his success.
He explained that the experienced coach had also expected him to medal at the Paris Olympic Games last year. However, when those plans were derailed through injury, the duo returned for this season with the goal of topping the medal podium.
"He said to me that in four years' time you are going to do it,"Seville related.
"The Olympics was my opportunity but I knew that I wasn't 100 per cent fit. But he knows that I have the talent to actually medal and be on that podium and capture that gold medal.
"So this year we made a different approach, and that approach has brought us to the gold medal," he remarked.
Seville's victory is also a major success for Mills, who has now won the world titles as a coach six times with four different athletes.
With Bolt winning the title thrice, and one win each from Seville, Yohan Blake and Kim Collins, Mills has extended his record as the most successful coach in the event.
Seville explained he was confident that, as long as he remained healthy, he would have been able to topple the field.
"Injuries were probably a big part of my career, and over the years, that was the only thing that was stopping me. And this year proved that if healthy, Seville is a dangerous Seville.
"So, I know for a fact that as long as I am not injured, I will be fine."
The Jamaican sprinter will now turn his attention to the men's 4x100m, where he is hoping to win Jamaica's first gold medal since 2015.
