WeeklySA_AdminFASTEST: Born of South Sudanese parents the boy is tipped to be the next Usain Bolt
By Sports Reporter
Seventeen-year-old Gout Gout won the Australian 200m title and broke the 20-second barrier with a wind-assisted performance in Perth, Australia, on Sunday..
He crossed the line in 19.84 seconds – 0.2secs faster than his own national record, but it was not official record because of a wind speed of +2.2 metres per second. Gout became the second fastest under-20 200m sprinter in history in all conditions – behind American Erriyon Knighton, who clocked 19.49 at the LSU Invitational in 2022.
“Top speed is my gift. I used it, took off and I got sub-20, so I couldn’t be happier,” said Gout, who ran a legal 20.21 in the heats.
“I’ve been chasing getting that sub-10, focusing on my first 100, and that’s exactly what I did. Feels pretty good.”
Gout won the Under-20 100m title on Friday in 9.99, also with a tailwind above the permitted limit.
Who is Gout Gout? And could he be the next Usain Bolt?
Gout Gout is a 17-year-old Australian teenager that shot to fame when a video was released on the internet showing his incredible running pace.
He is the son of Monica and Bona Gout, South Sudanese immigrants who have now settled in Queensland.
Gout Gout is one of seven children and still studying at school while training as a sprinter. It was at school where his running potential was first spotted.
Gout Gout’s talent was spotted when he was just 13-years-old by coach Di Sheppard who worked at his school. By 14, Gout was already beating the times of leading Australian athletes who were two years older than him.
And when he was just 15-years-old he won the men’s under-18 200m final at the 2023 Australian Junior Athletics Championships, setting a national under-20 record as a teenager.
In August last year he competed at the World U20 Championships and won a silver medal. After this he was given his first sponsorship by sports brand Adidas.
What’s next?
What could Gout Gout’s future running career be like? Gout Gout has regularly been compared to eight-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt, although he is yet to race at an Olympics himself.
The next Olympic Games will be held in Los Angeles in the US, and many people think that Gout Gout will be aiming to compete.
When speaking to news reporters after his victories this weekend he said: “Hopefully we can qualify for the Tokyo World Championships. If not, I’ll just finish my school in Year 12.”
