“Faster than Usain Bolt.” Just four words, but enough to send shockwaves through the track and field world. Can anyone really be faster than the Jamaican icon who redefined sprinting? Enter Gout Gout. At just 17 years old, this Australian phenom is blazing a trail that has the athletics world buzzing. His jaw-dropping 200m dash in 20.06 seconds not only made him the fastest sprinter in Oceanian history—it also eclipsed Usain Bolt’s under-18 best of 20.13. Yes, you read that right. Gout is already outpacing the greatest sprinter of all time at the same age. But he didn’t stop there.
In a stunning April performance, Gout shattered Australia’s long-standing national record with a blistering 19.84 seconds (+2.2 m/s wind). That erased the legendary Peter Norman’s mark of 20.06, which had stood unchallenged since 1968. All this—before he’s even old enough to vote. Even seasoned sports journalists are in awe. On April 18, just hours after the historic run, MLB reporter Dan Clark posted on X: “He [Gout Gout] is considered to have as much potential as Usain Bolt, and will probably be an Olympic champion one day.” However, Gout has already set his target for the upcoming days.
In his recent interaction with Fox Sports Australia’s program Back Page, Gout said, “I think the limit is just obviously winning Olympics and winning world championships and just honestly dominating like Bolt did. So I think that’s a limit, a reachable for me.” Big words. Bigger talent. However, if Gout wins the Olympic gold in track and field, then he will again go past Peter Norman’s record.
Yes. In the 1968 Olympics, Peter Norman’s 20.06 timing helped him to claim the silver medal in the men’s 200m event. Since then, no Australian has repeated the same success. So, if Gout does, then that will be a historic achievement. However, in the past, he had already mentioned that he was ready to take the responsibility.
In his YouTube documentary released by 7 News Spotlight in March, the teenage phenom said, “I think I’m prepared and I’m prepared to take the country’s weight on my shoulders, and even whatever pressure that hits me, I know I can overcome it.” Furthermore, Gout Gout is on the route already, and this time he has Noah Lyles with him.
Gout Gout receives words from the Olympic and world champion
When you’re a teenage sprinting prodigy with global eyes on you, every step counts. And thanks to Adidas, Gout Gout spent mid-January making some of those steps alongside one of the greatest in the game—Noah Lyles.
Training in Clermont, Florida, the young Aussie shared the track with the reigning sprint king himself, soaking in every moment. He didn’t just watch—he learned. From technical tweaks to the champion mindset, Gout was a student of greatness. And it didn’t take long for the results to show.
Just weeks later at the Joanna Stone Shield in Brisbane, Gout delivered a jaw-dropping performance in the 400m, clocking 46.20 seconds. The win was impressive, but the context? Even more staggering. That time is faster than the best 400m ever run by Noah Lyles, who posted 47.04 as a teenager back in 2016. Let that sink in: The teenager just beat Lyles’ best youth time—in Lyles’ own event.
“Training was great in Florida, and we’re confident he’s kicked on further,” said Gout’s manager, James Templeton, in an interview with The Guardian. “Gout is really looking forward to this weekend, as always he’s looking to run fast. Faster than before.” But perhaps the most valuable moment from Florida came off the track. On the Beyond The Records podcast, Gout recalled a key piece of advice from Lyles himself—words that every rising star needs to hear: “Everybody’s going to have their opinion and like you said, when you become somebody of a very high standard, everybody’s going to have opinions, whether it’s good or bad and they’re probably going to have their only preconceived notion.” That’s the kind of wisdom you carry into every race, every lane, every challenge. And if Gout Gout keeps this trajectory, he’s not just running fast— He’s running toward greatness.
The post Having Broken Usain Bolt’s Record, 17YO Gout Gout Gets Candid About Goal in Upcoming Competitions: “Reachable” appeared first on EssentiallySports.
