Sprinting wonderkid Gout Gout has opened up about comparisons to Usain Bolt, as the teen admits to being “overwhelmed”. Gout has caught the eye in recent months because of his stellar on-track performances.
The Australian-born starlet broke the Australian under-18 200m record as a 15-year-old and later surpassed the time Bolt set in the same under-18 category. Gout later went on to break the 20-second barrier, recording a 200m time of 19.98. As such, it’s no surprise Gout has been earning comparisons to the legendary Olympic athlete – something he isn’t too impressed by.
Speaking in an interview with Australian news outlet 7News, he explained: “In the moment it feels great because everyone wants to be compared to Usain Bolt, the fastest athlete alive. At times it does get a bit overwhelming, but now that I’ve grown up, I’m a bit mature and my circle really helps me stay level and I’m just trying to make a name for myself. Although I do run like Usain Bolt and I do maybe look like him, I’m just trying to be myself and trying to be the next Gout.”
While Gout is understandably dismissive of the similarities that are being made between him and Gout, the records certainly speak for themselves and the teen is expected to go on and achieve great things. His first opportunity to shine on an Olympic stage will come in Los Angeles when the Games head to the City of Angels in 2028. Following that though, it’s a home Games in Australia, with Aussie sports stars already predicting Gout will be the poster boy of the Olympics.
Former Olympic silver medalist John Steffenson mused: “He is fun to watch. It is at the point where it’s just fun and exciting and the world is on notice and really Australia haven’t had a legit sprinter since Matt Shirvington, Patrick Johnson and Peter Walsh and they haven’t done what this kid is doing.
“Gout Gout has done this at just 16, 17 and even if nothing happens from here what Gout Gout has done has set up Australian sprinting for the future. We should be in debt for the work he has done because he’s given us some belief that we can compete again with the best in the world.”
Steffenson concluded: “He is doing all the right things so without a doubt the world is his oyster and we as the Australian public should give him time, enjoy what we are seeing, celebrate that he is an Australian and that we have Brisbane Olympics in our backyard and come then potentially he is lining up and we are cheering him home in another Cathy Freeman moment.”
