Teen sprint sensation Gout Gout has been making waves after the 16-year-old shattered one of Usain Bolt's long-standing records .
The Australian made his mark at the U20 World Championships in Peru, where he clocked an impressive silver medal-winning time of 20.60 seconds in the 200m race behind Bayanda Walaza, an 18-year-old from South Africa. This feat saw Gout narrowly surpass Bolt's own record for a 16-year-old of 20.61 , which the track superstar set back in 2002.
Now, Gout is the talk of the town when it comes to speculating who will be the next athlete to fill the enormous shoes left by Bolt . His blistering speed has inevitably drawn comparisons, with even the president of Athletics Australia noting the similarities.
Gout appears to be a serious contender for Bolt's age-group records in both the 100m and 200m races, and he's got his sights set on the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. But who exactly is this young man that fans and experts are tipping for greatness?
Born in Queensland in 2007 to South Sudanese parents who had migrated to Australia a few years prior, Gout showed early promise as a sprinter. At just 15, he not only clinched victory in the men's under-18 200m final at the 2023 Australian Junior Athletics Championships, but also set a national under-20 record.
Gout has also demonstrated remarkable prowess in the 100m race. He clocked an unforgettable time of 10.29s in March this year. The clip of the breakout moment became an internet sensation, capturing the young star's electrifying speed as he left competitors trailing far behind, effortlessly carving a figure of confidence on the track reminiscent of Bolt.
To put his performance into perspective, had Gout matched this 100m sprint time at the Paris Olympics, he would have breezed through the initial stages and right into the first round of the men's 100m.
Gout proudly holds the Australian under-16 records for both the 100m and 200m events, and in 2024, he outdid himself, setting personal bests in each category. Yet, despite the accolades, he remains unflustered by the attention.
When confronted with the Bolt comparisons in April, Gout told Fox Sports : "It’s pretty cool because Usain Bolt is arguably the greatest athlete of all time and just being compared to him is a great feeling. Obviously I’m Gout Gout so I’m trying to make a name for myself. If I can get to the level he was, that would be a great achievement."
As the 2028 Olympics approach, Gout will be turning 20 - a prime contender for gold. And looking ahead to the 2032 Games, which will take place in his home state of Brisbane, the stage is set for Gout to potentially usurp the legendary Bolt.
However, he will need to pull off something truly spectacular to achieve this. Bolt is an eight-time Olympic gold medalist and still holds the world record for the 100m, 200m, and 4x100 metres relay.
His 100m record of 9.58s has stood unbroken since August 2009. His 200m record, also set in 2009, remains at 19.19s. He is the only sprinter ever to clinch Olympic 100m and 200m titles at three consecutive Games.
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