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Dubbed as the next Usain Bolt, Gout Gout has taken the athletics world by storm, turning heads with record-shattering performances that defy his age. The 16-year-old Australian sprinter first rose to prominence at just 14 when he broke one of Bolt’s under-20 records, posting a staggering 20.60 seconds in the 200m. Since then, Gout’s trajectory has been nothing short of meteoric. 

Competing at the Australian All-Schools Athletics Championships in Brisbane, Gout delivered a stunning performance in the 100-meter dash. With a blistering time of 10.17 seconds, he has not only won the title but currently stands as the sixth fastest under-18 sprinter in 100m time in history. Moreover, the time, achieved with a legal wind of 0.9 m/s, smashed the Australian national under-18 record previously held by Sebastian Sultana (10.27).

Aussie teenage sprint prodigy stuns the world yet again, surpassing Bolt’s feat 

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This feat came just hours after Gout clocked a wind-assisted 10.04 seconds in the heats, an extraordinary time nullified due to a tailwind of +3.4 m/s. Despite the record being unofficial, the performance underscored the teenager’s immense potential. “I’ve been chasing this national record for a while now,” Gout said. “In the heat, I thought I got it, but it was a crazy tailwind, so I just did the same thing and got the job done.” However, Gout did not put a pause on his aim of rewriting the athletic records. 

If his 100m triumph wasn’t enough, Gout saved his most historic moment for the 200m the following day. Racing on his home track in Brisbane, the teenager clocked an astonishing 20.04 seconds to shatter Peter Norman’s 56-year-old Australian national record of 20.06, set at the 1968 Olympic Games. Wait! The surprise doesn’t just end here. He yet again decided to justify the claims of track enthusiasts who often choose to refer to him as the upcoming Bolt. Gout’s time bettered Usain Bolt’s 200m mark at the same age. The Jamaican legend ran 20.13 seconds in the 200-meter at 16, and standing at the same age, Gout’s time reads 20.04 seconds.

After wreaking havoc on the track, the young phenom stated, “These are adult times, and me, just a kid, I’m running them. It’s going to be a great future for sure.” Honestly reflecting on his record-breaking performance, he added, “I didn’t expect it to be that fast, but I guess I ran Australia’s fastest-ever time in the 200.” With such a massive success, he has not only marked the fastest-ever 200m time by a 16-year-old but also ranks second in history for under-18 athletes. He currently stands only behind Erriyon Knighton’s 19.84s from 2021.

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Born in Brisbane to South Sudanese parents who migrated to Australia in 2006, Gout’s meteoric rise has been nothing short of extraordinary. With the continuous display of speed and composure, the young sprint star’s name is now firmly etched into national and global record books. And with the teenager’s ascension in the track world, his ambition too remains clear. “In January I’m going overseas to train with Noah Lyles and his coach, Lance Brauman. Hopefully, we can qualify for the Tokyo World Championships. If not, I’ll just finish my school in Year 12,” Gout shared.

‘Let Him Be Gout Gout’: Manager Calls for Caution Amid Bolt Comparisons

At just 16, the Australian sprint prodigy has set the track and field world ablaze with times that rival even Usain Bolt’s teenage feats. However, his manager, James Templeton, has urged fans and media alike to temper their excitement, cautioning against premature comparisons to the eight-time Olympic gold medalist. 

Speaking to ABC News, Templeton addressed the growing buzz, stating, “I’ve avoided using the ‘UB’ (Usain Bolt) comparison. I think that’s unfair to a young athlete.” For the past 18 months, Templeton has taken a firm stance, shielding Gout from excessive media attention. “We just want to allow him to be a normal kid at school. We don’t want him to have any distraction,” he added, emphasizing the importance of letting the teenager grow without the weight of Bolt’s towering legacy.

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However, comparisons are inevitable given Gout’s remarkable times. But amid all the buzz, young athletes remain humble. In a recent interview, Gout acknowledged the honor but maintained perspective: “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.”

Gout’s achievements across both the 100m and 200m solidify his place as one of the brightest young talents in global athletics. Now holding Australian under-16 and under-18 records in both events, the question is not if he’ll break the elusive 10-second barrier in the 100m or lower his 200m time even further, but when.

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Is Gout Gout the next Usain Bolt, or should we let him carve his own path?