The world witnessed numerous stars on the track this season. But they weren’t prepared for a new phenom, who would obliterate the track at the tender age of 16. Who are we talking about, you ask? Australia’s track and field sensation, Gout Gout, stunned the crowds during the Australian Junior Athletics Championship 2023.

Competing in the 200m sprint in Brisbane, he scorched to the finish line in 20.87 seconds, smashing the national under-18 record of 20.90 seconds that had been set by legends like Zane Bronco, Darren Clark, and Paul Greene. But it looks like the wunderkind refuses to slow down and has been deemed as ‘the next Usain Bolt.’ As impressive as his performances have been, the young ace recently witnessed the flip side of a coin. But what went down? Let’s see!

Gout Gout comes face to face with racism

Last week, the Australian Schools Championships were in full swing in Brisbane. And the 16-year-old left the track and field community speechless with his incredible feat. It wasn’t long before his special day was taken over by a flurry of racist comments. For the unversed, Gout Gout is the son of South Sudan couple Monica and Bona Gout. However, the sprinter was born and raised in Ipswich, Queensland.

Several fans have labeled him a “paper Australian,” implying that his rapid rise to success has caused some to claim him more for his blistering speed than his national identity. These detractors argue that, despite his impressive achievements on the track, Gout’s heritage makes him seem like an outsider to some, with a sense that his success is being claimed by Australians more for the prestige it brings than for any true connection to the country.

What success are they speaking of? Well, after turning heads in his viral video at the 2024 Queensland Athletics Championships, the phenom drew comparison to the track and field legend Usain Bolt. However, he blew everyone away by his impressive performance at the Australian Schools Championships in Brisbane. In the 200m event, Gout Gout scorched to the finish line in 20.04 seconds. But with this blistering time, he etched his name in the history books for years to come. How’s that, you ask?

The 16-year-old’s incredible time shattered a 56-year-old national record, which was set by Peter Norman at the 1968 Olympics. While Norman’s time of 20.06 was worthy of a silver medal, Gout has surpassed that iconic performance with his own. This time was also the second fastest by an Under-18 in history. However, American Sprinter Erriyon Knighton still holds the #1 spot with his 19.84 seconds from 2021. Don’t be surprised though as this isn’t the only feather in his hat!

Records and dreams- A path to immortality

The 16-year-old broke a long-standing record at the Australian All-Schools Athletics Championships in Brisbane. However, he did overtake another legend in the process. Gout Gout shattered Usain Bolt’s 200m at the same age. At 16, the Jamaican legend posted a blistering time of 20.13 seconds in the 200m meter. With this, the Australian has now moved above Bolt’s under-18s time, which now is #3.

However, this wasn’t the only time he surpassed the track and field legend. At the mere age of 14, the sprinter shocked the world when he shattered Bolt’s under-20 record with a scorching 20.60 seconds in the 200m. Since then, the wunderkind hasn’t looked back as he took on another record recently.

Contesting in the Australian All-Schools Athletics Championships in Brisbane, the 16-year-old has taken the track world by storm. Before a historic performance in the 200m event, he surprised the crowds in the 100m dash. Gout crossed the finish line in 10.17 seconds, triumphantly clinching the title.

But this isn’t it. He is currently the sixth fastest under-18 sprinter in the 100m time in history. Additionally, the time was achieved with a legal wind of 0.9 m/s, smashing the Australian national under-18 record. This was previously held by Sebastian Sultana, who ran 10.27 seconds. The 16-year-old has racked up impressive feats on the track at a young age. But despite it all, many have hurled hurtful comments his way. However, these murmurs stand no chance in Gout’s path to immortality. Tell us how you see his career panning out in the future.