Track fans know Gout Gout as a young phenom who’s been lighting up the 200m with times like his blistering 20.06, a mark that’s left competitors in the dust. Gatlin’s seen it firsthand: “We’ve watched Gout Gout annihilate competition before and be very comfortable.” This dude’s a force, no question. Then there’s Lachlan Kennedy, the 60m and 100m specialist who’s been turning heads indoors and out. Remember his 6.43 in the 60m outdoors with that 1.6 tailwind? Or his 10.03 indoors to win it for his country? He’s a silver medalist from Worlds in the 60m, proving he’s no fluke. Now, he’s stepping into Gout Gout’s 200m territory, and the stakes just got real. So, what happens when these two collide?

Picture this: the 200m gun goes off, and everyone’s expecting Gout Gout to cruise to victory—until Kennedy flips the script. In a jaw-dropping finish, Kennedy outsprints the favorite, leaving fans stunned. Gatlin breaks it down on Ready Set Go: “He tried to run down Kennedy but he ran out of real estate… maybe 20 meters before the line, he starts looking around a little bit.” Gout, usually untouchable, settles for second. Meanwhile, Kennedy’s out there with a point to prove, saying, “I’m sorry everybody thought that Gala was going to win, I just came out here, I want to put on a great show.” This wasn’t just a race; it was a statement. But what made the difference between these two on the day?

According to Gatlin, it’s all in the headspace. Kennedy’s a “gamer,” thriving under pressure: “He’s backed it up every time, every step of the way… that tells me that you have so much more room to grow.” His mentality? Pure fire—he didn’t plan to win, just to compete and elevate the race. Gout, though? Gatlin noticed a shift: “He wasn’t gassed… he came off the turn and he kind of like was very reserved… he maneuvered and kind of navigated his way towards second place.” It wasn’t fatigue—it was a choice. But here’s the kicker: Gatlin sees redemption ahead, hinting at Gout’s next move with, “I think Gout Gout is going to take this loss and he’s mentally going to prepare himself to be even a bigger competitor.” So, how’s Gout Gout gonna flip this L into a W?

Well, one loss doesn’t erase Gout’s shine. Gatlin’s got his back, comparing him to Quincy after a loss: “When Quincy lost he says, ‘That ain’t going to happen no more, I’mma bounce back, I’mma train hard… I ain’t losing no more.”  Gout’s cut from that same cloth—mentally tough and ready to reload. Gatlin’s advice? “Make a hit list… put all the names of the people you respect in that discipline, the 200, and every time you race against them, give them a mark.” That’s the blueprint to turn this setback into a comeback. At his age, with his time, he’s still the next big thing—pressure or not. So, how soon will we see him check that first name off the list?

Gout Gout the Aussie prodigy’s legacy fuels the hype beyond a single loss

Gout, the 17-year-old Australian sprinting phenom, has already carved out a legacy that’s turning heads across the track and field world. Bursting onto the scene in 2022 at just 14 years old, he clocked a jaw-dropping 10.57 seconds in the 100m, signaling the arrival of a prodigy. By 2024, he’d taken it up a notch, running the 200m in 20.60 seconds at the World Athletics U20 Championships—edging out a 15-year-old Usain Bolt’s mark of 20.61 from 2002 by a razor-thin 0.01 seconds.

This season alone, Gout smashed barriers, posting a world-leading 20.05 in the 200m and then becoming the first Australian to break the 20-second mark with a 19.98 at the Queensland State Championships U20 final (though wind conditions of +3.6m/s kept it off the official record books). Fans can’t stop buzzing about this kid—his raw speed, his lanky frame reminiscent of a young Bolt, and his chill vibe off the track. Even sprint legend Usain Bolt chimed in, saying Gout “looks like young me,” a nod that’s got the faithful dreaming of gold medals and world records.

But then came the Maurie Plant Meet in Melbourne earlier this year, where Gout’s undefeated streak snapped against Lachlan Kennedy, a silver medalist from the World Indoors. A close loss—Kennedy even admitted, “Five more meters and he would have had me”—but a loss nonetheless. So, how does this setback fit into the Gout Gout hype train?

Well, this Maurie Plant Meet loss is a blip, not a bust. Kennedy might’ve outrun him by a hair, but Gout’s silver still shines—especially when you consider he’s just a kid racing men. “Keeping it simple, keeping it chill, not putting too much pressure on myself and just being out there and just being a kid,”  For a 17-year-old to shrug off a streak-ending defeat with that kind of perspective? That’s next-level. Fans see it too—social media’s lit up with takes like “Gout’s still the future” and “One loss doesn’t kill the dream.”  The faithful are betting on him to dominate once he’s fully seasoned, and this loss might just be the spark that lights his fire for the long haul. So, what’s next for this Aussie speedster as he eyes the world stage?