Sprinting sensation Gout Gout focused on blazing his own trail
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Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 15.12.24. | 22:01
His record-breaking performance placed him as the fourth-fastest in Australian and World U18 history,
Teenage sprinting prodigy Gout Gout is often compared to the legendary Usain Bolt, but the Australian sprinter is focused on his own path. He aims to become the best version of himself, not a copy of anyone else.
On Saturday, December 7, the 16-year-old shattered Australia’s national 200m record at the Australian Schools Championships, clocking an astounding 20.04 seconds.
The previous record had stood since the 1968 Olympics when Peter Norman ran 20.06 seconds to claim a silver medal. Gout's initial time was recorded as 20.07 seconds but later revised to 20.04, cementing his place in history.
This incredible achievement not only made Gout the fastest 16-year-old ever but also placed him second in the U18 rankings, trailing only American Erriyon Knighton, who clocked 19.84 seconds in 2021.
Usain Bolt now occupies third place in the category with a time of 20.13 seconds, set in 2003. Despite the inevitable comparisons to the Jamaican sprinting legend, Gout is determined to build his own legacy.
“I do see it [the similarity to Bolt]. My stride length is pretty long, my knee height is pretty high, and I get quite tall when I’m running. But I’m just trying to be me.
Obviously, I do run like him, and I do sometimes look like him, but I’m making a name for myself, and I think I’ve done that pretty well. I just want to continue doing that — not only being Usain Bolt but also being Gout Gout," he told Nine.
Gout’s performance has propelled him into the global spotlight, earning him an invitation to train with Olympic champion Noah Lyles and renowned coach Lance Brauman in Florida this January. The camp will host 18 promising sprinters for an intensive two-to-three-week training program.
“That’ll be a great opportunity, a wonderful educational experience. I haven’t heard from Noah, but he’s a great guy. I’m sure he’ll be happy to take the younger guy under his wing a little bit,” said Gout’s agent, James Templeton, in an interview with ABC.
Gout made headlines after a viral video showed him dominating a field of schoolboy sprinters with strides uncannily reminiscent of Bolt.
Less than a week later, he showcased his potential at the Queensland All Schools Athletics Championships in Brisbane, where he clocked a new personal best of 20.29 seconds (with a 1.2m/s wind), surpassing Aidan Murphy’s 20.41 seconds Australian U20 record and becoming the fastest 200m sprinter from his country in 31 years.
His record-breaking performance placed him as the fourth-fastest in Australian and World U18 history, behind Erriyon Knighton (19.84s), Usain Bolt (20.13s), and Puripol Boonson (20.19s), further solidifying his status as a future world champion like Bolt.
