“I’ve been chasing this national record for a while now!” exclaimed Gout Gout, the rising teenage sensation who’s got the track world buzzing. At just 16 years old, the Aussie phenom clocked a mind-blowing 10.04 seconds in the 100m heats at the All-Schools Athletics Championships in Queensland on Friday. That sizzling run made him the fourth-fastest under-18 sprinter in history. Gout, often compared to the one and only Usain Bolt, is already living up to the hype. Though his blistering time won’t officially count due to a wind assist (over the NCAA’s 2.0 m/s limit), his performance has the world saying, “So beautiful to watch!”

And the excitement didn’t end there. Later that day, Gout hit the track again, clocking 10.17 seconds in the finals—making it the sixth-fastest time ever by an under-18 sprinter. Beating his previous personal best of 10.29, he reflected on his performance with casual confidence, saying, “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.” But here’s the twist! While Gout continues to shine in the spotlight, whispers are growing about another 16-year-old track prodigy making waves, proving the future of sprinting is brighter—and faster—than ever.

Track and Field journalist Mitch Dyer brought the heat to X on December 6, dropping a jaw-dropping video of the female race with a caption that was equal parts hype and history. “It’s going to get lost in the Gout Gout hype (which is so valid), but sprinting was on fire yesterday… 16 YO Thewbelle Philp has one of the most electric starts in sprinting, and capitalised to become the #3 Aussie u/18 all time… the two ahead of her? 11.20 – Raelene Boyle, 11.33 Torrie Lewis, 11.38 Thewbelle Philp…”

And oh boy, did Thewbelle deliver! In the video, this 16-year-old dynamo exploded off the blocks with a start so fierce, it could light up a stadium. Taking the lead right from the get-go, she never looked back, holding her fiery pace all the way to the finish line. The result? A scorching 11.38 (+1.5) in the Under 17 100m, smashing the Championship record and cementing her spot as the third-fastest Australian Under 18 sprinter of all time. Only legends Raelene Boyle (11.20) and Torrie Lewis (11.33) sit ahead of her on the all-time list. Thewbelle isn’t just running; she’s rewriting history with every stride!

Back in August, Thewbelle made history as the youngest sprinter on Australia’s U20 relay squad heading to an international showdown. For her, the highlight wasn’t just donning the green and gold but securing a spot in the 4x100m relay team—a moment she says still feels surreal. “It still blows my mind that I was picked as one of the 4x100m relay runners,” she shared, clearly beaming with pride.

Philp’s gold medal double in the 100m and 200m at the Adelaide Nationals in April 2024 was the cherry on top, cementing her spot among the nation’s best and punching her ticket to the U20 World Team. Talk about a whirlwind year! Meanwhile, as Gout Gout basks in the glow of his newfound fame, with comparisons to the legendary Bolt lighting up the track world, there’s still a steeper hill ahead. Despite his blistering pace, he’s got some catching up to do to match the level of America’s top U18 sprinters.

Gout Gout on his way to becoming the fastest man?

Gout Gout nearly ignited the track world with his blistering 10.03-second 100-meter dash, a performance that could’ve crowned him the fastest under-18 sprinter in history. But alas, a cheeky +3.4 m/s tailwind had other plans, making the time ineligible for official records. No matter—Gout came back with a vengeance just two hours later, clocking a wind-legal 10.17 seconds, smashing Sebastian Sultana’s Australian U18 record of 10.27 and cementing himself as the sixth-fastest U18 sprinter ever.

“I’ve been chasing this national record for a while now,” Gout shared. “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.” Yet, the young speedster still has his sights set on the likes of Christian Miller and Puripol Boonson, who lead the U18 leaderboard with a jaw-dropping 10.06 seconds.

Gout Gout’s wind-aided 10.04 isn’t just a personal win—it’s the fifth-fastest 100m ever by an Australian under any conditions. And if you’re curious how he stacks up, even Usain Bolt’s best at 16 was 10.03, years before he dazzled the world at the Olympics. But Gout’s not just about the 100 m. Just weeks ago, he blazed through the 200m in 20.29, crushing Australian U18 and U20 records and inching closer to Peter Norman’s iconic 20.06.

Born to South Sudanese immigrants, Gout Gout’s journey is fueled by grit, ambition, and a spark of pure magic. Now, he’s heading to the U.S. to train with world champ Noah Lyles and legendary coach Lance Brauman. The goal? Snag a spot at the Tokyo World Championships and show the globe what he’s got. “Hopefully, we can qualify for the Tokyo World Championships. If not, I’ll just finish school in year 12,” he joked, balancing teenage life with dreams of sprint stardom. With his blazing speed and Bolt-like flair, Gout’s just getting started, and the world better keep up!