Gout Gout on Usain Bolt comparisons: 16-year-old sprinting sensation is 'just trying to be me'
Gout Gout became the fastest 16-year-old ever after clocking 20.04 seconds in the 200 metres; that broke the 56-year-old Australian record held by Peter Norman from the 1968 Olympics; he is reportedly set to link up with Noah Lyles' coach in January
Monday 9 December 2024 10:48, UK
Teenage sprinting sensation Gout Gout is used to comparisons to Usain Bolt but insists he is focused on continuing to be the best version of himself rather than anybody else.
Gout ran the 200 metres in 20.04 seconds on Saturday at the Australian Schools Championships, beating the national record which had been held since the 1968 Olympics by Peter Norman.
His run was initially marked at 20.07 seconds but later revised to 20.04 seconds, taking him below the 20.06 seconds run by Norman that won him a silver medal.
With that, Gout became the fastest 16-year-old ever and is second in the U18 category behind USA's Erriyon Knighton, who clocked 19.84 in 2021. Usain Bolt is third with a 20.13 back in 2003.
The attention of the sprinting world is currently on Gout and while he sees the similarities with the fastest man in history, his focus is on "making a name for himself".
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"I do see it [the similarity to Bolt." Gout said to Nine. "My stride length is pretty long, my knee height is pretty high and just the amount of tallness I get when I'm running.
"I'm just me trying to be me. Obviously, I do run like him. I do sometimes look like him, but obviously I'm making a name for myself, and I think I've done that pretty well.
"I just want to continue doing that and continue to be not only Usain Bolt but continue to be Gout Gout."
Gout has also reportedly been invited to train with Olympic champion Noah Lyles and his coach Lance Brauman in January in Florida as a group of 18 talented sprinters go to a two-to-three-week camp.
"That'll be a great opportunity, a wonderful educational experience," Gout's agent James Templeton told ABC.
"I haven't heard from Noah, but he's a great guy. I'm sure he'll be happy to take the younger guy under his wing a little bit."
