Gout Gout: The 16-year old Aussie who is already faster than Usain Bolt

Australian sprinting superstar Gout Gout has been compared to Usain Bolt for his ultra-fast speed, which has only been comparable to Bolt up to now.

At the Australian All Schools Championship, Gout Gout ran the 200m in a lightning-fast time of 20.04s, trumping the speed of Australian legend and 1968 Olympic 200m silver medalist Peter Norman.

Gout Gout also ran the 200m faster than Usain Bolt was able to at the same age (16 years old). According to The Independent, Bolt said the new Australia and Oceania 200m record holder "looks like young me."

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Gout Gout gained widespread attention in August when he claimed silver at the U20 World Championships with a time of 20.60 seconds, narrowly surpassing the record set by then-15-year-old Usain Bolt by 0.01 seconds. Bolt, at Gout Gout's current age, ran 20.13 seconds.

On November 2, 2024, the Australian won the All Schools Queensland title, but it was his time of 20.29 seconds in the heats that captured the most attention.

Photo by Ben Soyka on Unsplash

At just 16, Gout Gout is arguably one of the most talented sprinters on the scene, beating all types of times in his age group, but matching Bolt's career would be an unthinkable task at this stage, some in the industry argue.

Former Olympic sprinter Justin Gatlin has warned against comparing the teenage sprint prodigy to the legendary Usain Bolt, despite the young athlete's impressive performances.

"Look at what Bolt did – and not taking anything away from Gout Gout or anybody else that's doing their thing right now and dominating - when Bolt was a junior, he had the junior world record, which at that point in time (2004) this dude ran 19 low nine (19.93) was his record, bro. You put that against these guys today, he is eclipsing them," shared the former American sprinter on the Ready Set Go podcast.

"To say that this person is the next and that person is the next, I feel like we give the microphone to bandwagoners. Stop putting these young athletes on a path that comes with a lot of stress and pressure," Gatlin added during the interview.

South African sprinter Bayanda Walaza snatched the gold with a remarkable time of 20.54 seconds. The 18-year-old sprinter is enjoying a great spell of form following his great display in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

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British runner Jake Odey-Jordan took home the bronze, after finishing the race in 20.81 seconds, behind Gout Gout. The Australian sprinter was one of the youngest athletes in the final.

Gout Gout's impressive performances have led to comparisons with Usain Bolt, with many seeing significant potential in the young Australian sprinter. Gout Gout has taken these comparisons in stride, calling them "pretty cool" and expressing appreciation for being likened to one of the greatest sprinters in history.

Nevertheless, Gout Gout is not the only youngster breaking hot records. Earlier this year, Jamaican sprinter Nickecoy Bramwell broke Bolt's under-17 400m world record at the Carifta Games. Young Bramwell clocked 47.26 seconds, beating Bolt's record by 0.07 seconds.

Both Bramwell and Gout Gout are emerging as two of the most talented sprinters under the age of 18, with fans eagerly debating who might eventually fill Usain Bolt's shoes. Each athlete brings a unique set of abilities and skills to the track. Bramwell excels in the 400m races, showcasing his endurance and confidence in longer sprints. On the other hand, Gout Gout has proven to be stronger in the 100-200m races, leveraging his explosive power to deliver short bursts of speed.

Bolt's early career was marked by rapid progression from youth competitions to the professional stage, despite some initial setbacks due to injuries. His eventual success included winning silver at the 2007 World Championships and achieving a historic double gold in the 2008 Olympics. The current performances of young sprinters like Gout Gout and Bramwell show that Bolt's records continue to inspire and challenge the next generation of athletes.

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