Gift Leotlela on Beating Oblique Seville, Injury Comebacks, and Chasing World Championship Glory

The South African sprint star has reflected on defeating Oblique Seville in Tokyo, overcoming injuries, and setting his sights on World Championships success.

South Africa’s Gift Leotlela stole the show in the men’s 100m heats at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 2025, obliterating a strong field comprising Oblique Seville.

Gift Leotlela had a steady rise from the blocks, building on that momentum and eventually won the race in 9.87 seconds, a personal best time.

Kayinsola Ajayi came in second, clocking a stunning 9.88 seconds, a personal best time too, as Oblique Seville was forced to seal the podium in a time of 9.93 seconds.

Gift Leotlela has since opened up about his season in the build-up to the World Championships and why he has been under the radar in previous seasons.

The 27-year-old, in an interview with Citius Mag, expressed excitement at having won the men’s 100m first heat, noting that he knew what was needed of him as he stepped on the starting line.

Leotlela pointed out that as he started the 2025 season, he knew his final destination would be the World Championships and everything he did throughout the season was to prepare for the global showpiece.

“I’m very happy, but I knew I just had to execute, focus on myself, get all my phases correct in the race, and I knew the time would come,” Gift Leotlela revealed.

“The big goal was always the world champs, and at the beginning of the season, I was training really well. I knew I just had to have that one race where everything clicks. Even in Europe, I was winning all my races.

“I wasn’t running fast in all the races, but I was winning all of them, and it gave me a lot of confidence going into the world championships.”

He added that training with stars like Bayanda Walaza has been an eye-opening experience since their training camp is home away from home.

He explained that they always motivate each other to give their all, and in the absence of Bayanda Walaza, he knew he needed to make a mark.

Gift Leotlela added that Akani Simbine has been one of the best ambassadors of African sprinting, and they are now motivated to join him.

“The training. I’ve been training really well. It’s just that I haven’t put it together in the races. So, I always knew it was possible, and yeah, now it came,” he added.

“I’m based in South Africa, and I’m coached by Coach Tabo Matibidi, Coach T. I’m in the same group with Bayanda Walaza, training together in Pretoria.

“The goal is always to come here and to do really well here. So we just motivate each other. Akani Simbine has done really well for African athletics and for South Africa. So we just want to join him.”

Gift Leotlela further noted that he has been competing sparingly due to injury setbacks, but added that he is now okay and ready to give his all.

“I’ve been struggling with a lot with injuries, so I’ve been on and off every year. So this year, I was healthy, training really well, and I think it was important for me to be in those sorts of races,” he revealed.

After stunning Oblique Seville in the men’s 100m heats, Gift Leotlela believes he can hold on to make the final and hopefully walk away with a medal.