History might just be repeating itself in athletics. Remember when a young Usain Bolt burst onto the scene and left everyone speechless? Or when stars like Mo Farah, Allyson Felix, and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce first showed the world what they could do? Well, it looks like we’re about to witness something similar—there’s a lot of buzz around a 16-year-old sprinter from Australia. Some are even speculating if we might be witnessing the rise of a future track superstar in the making.

Gout Gout is his name. He’s already creating a legacy for himself! Born in Brisbane to parents who migrated from South Sudan, Gout recently achieved a moment at the U20 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, by completing the 200-meter final in 20.60 seconds. To put that into perspective, Usain Bolt—yes, the Usain Bolt—ran 20.61 seconds in the same event when he was just shy of 15.

That’s right, Gout beat Bolt’s teenage time by a fraction, just 0.01 seconds, while also breaking a record that had stood for 22 years since the 2002 World Junior Championships in Kingston, Jamaica.  Considering Bolt’s legendary records have stood firm since his retirement in 2017, this is a huge deal. It’s no wonder people are already calling him the “next Bolt.”

But it’s not just fans hyping him up. Aussie sports broadcasting legend Bruce McAvaney has joined the conversation, calling Gout’s talent a “rare gift.” McAvaney even compared him to Cathy Freeman, who’s one of Australia’s most legendary athletes, while mentioning that Gout has progressed more in his development compared to where Freeman was at his age. “We have never had anyone quite like him,” McAvaney mentioned.

This year has been quite eventful for Gout; it’s no wonder why! He is setting records, being likened to legendary athletes from the past while captivating fans all around the world. McAvaney summed it up best: “Has there been anyone more exciting?” With all eyes on him, Gout Gout is already rewriting the script for Australian athletics—and he’s just getting started. Even Usain Bolt offered some advice to Gout after the young sprinter surpassed one of his records without making noise, about it.

Is Usain Bolt’s legacy in danger?

Usain Bolt frequently reminisces about his beginnings as a sprinter. And he did the same in an interview back in early November, recalling how he clinched victory at the World Juniors at the tender age of 15 due to his innate talent. Observing that he lacked an understanding of greatness during his years and won effortlessly without exerting much effort. The truth dawned on him when he transitioned to the professional level, where challenges arose and winning wasn’t as straightforward. At that time, he realized that perseverance and hard work were crucial in his journey to success.

This is a lesson Gout Gout will likely face as his career takes off. “It’s pretty cool because Usain Bolt is arguably the greatest athlete of all time,” Gout added, emphasizing, “Just being compared to him is a great feeling.” But Gout isn’t about just following in Bolt’s footsteps. “I’m Gout Gout, so I’m trying to make a name for myself,” he noted, showing that he’s driven to achieve greatness on his own terms.

Gout is really causing a stir these days! He’s holding the title for the fastest Aussie in the U16 group after clocking in at 10:43 for the 100 meters last month! At the 2023 Junior Athletics Championships in Brisbane, he outdid records previously set by athletes like Darren Clark and Paul Greene, who were actually older than him when they hit their times. That being said, Gout is indeed making a name for himself as the next sprinting sensation.