At just 16 years old, Australian sprinting sensation Gout Gout is taking the track and field world by storm, drawing comparisons to the legendary Usain Bolt. With his recent record-breaking performances, the Brisbane-based teenager has left fans and experts in awe of his extraordinary speed and potential. Gout’s most recent achievement came at the Australian All-Schools Athletics Championships, where he clocked an astonishing 10.04 seconds in the 100m heats.

Gout first turned heads at just 14 years old when he shattered an under-20 record, completing the 200m in 20.60 seconds. The 10.04-second sprint in the U18 100m heat is faster than the time Bolt managed at the same age, a feat that has further fueled the hype around Gout’s bright future. However, despite the comparisons to the Jamaican icon, Gout still faces stiff competition from rising U.S. sprinters who currently dominate the U18 scoreboards.

Aussie sprinter’s 10.17s performance ranks him behind top American U18 sprinters.

Gout’s blazing time of 10.03 seconds had the potential to become the fastest ever clocked by an under-18 athlete in the 100-meter dash. However, due to an illegal tailwind of +3.4 m/s, the timing was deemed ineligible for official recognition. Despite this setback, the incredible effort still solidifies Gout’s place in the record books, as it now ranks as the fourth-fastest time ever recorded by an under-18 athlete under any conditions.

Two hours later, the wind subsided, and the young phenom delivered another electrifying performance in the final. Clocking a legal 10.17 seconds, he obliterated the Australian U18 record of 10.27 held by Sebastian Sultana, officially becoming the sixth-fastest under-18 sprinter in history. After the massive win, Gout Gout stated, “I’ve been chasing this national record for a while now.” He further added, “In the heat, I thought I got it, but it was a crazy tailwind, so I just did the same thing and got the job done.”

Despite these accolades, Gout Gout is yet to surpass the official times of three U.S. sprinters on the World Athletics U18 leaderboard. Currently, the title of the fastest under-18 100-meter sprinter is jointly held by 18-year-old Christian Miller of the U.S. and Thailand’s Puripol Boonson, both clocking a record time of 10.06 seconds.

Gout’s heat time of 10.04 seconds ranks as the fifth-fastest 100m by an Australian under any conditions, showcasing his extraordinary potential to challenge both national and global benchmarks. For context, Usain Bolt’s personal best at age 16 was 10.03 seconds—achieved five years before he became an Olympic legend. Moreover, Gout’s achievements extend beyond the 100m.

Just a few weeks back, he clocked an impressive 20.29 seconds in the 200m, securing the Australian U18 and U20 records. His time of 20.29 is just fractions behind Peter Norman’s iconic national mark of 20.06, set during his silver-medal-winning run at the 1968 Olympics. With a focus on both events, Gout’s versatility mirrors that of Bolt, who dominated sprints across distances, thus justifying the comparisons that are often drawn between the rising Aussie star and the legend.

The son of South Sudanese immigrants, Gout Gout attributes his success to discipline and vision. Next month, he plans to head to the U.S. to train with world champion Noah Lyles and renowned coach Lance Brauman. “Hopefully, we can qualify for the Tokyo World Championships. If not, I’ll just finish school in year 12,” he said, unveiling his approach and aim for the upcoming days. However, despite all the hype surrounding his comparison to the Jamaican legend, the young sprinter’s manager had a different approach to the situation.

Gout Gout’s coach wants to keep things simple

Drawing comparisons to Usain Bolt is no small feat, and going toe-to-toe with the legendary sprinter at such a young age is even rarer. Unsurprisingly, the fame has hit the 14-year-old like a freight train. With his popularity skyrocketing, Gout needs to have a guiding hand to navigate the pressures of success—and fortunately, that hand belongs to his experienced manager, James Templeton.

In a conversation with ABC News, Templeton emphasized the importance of keeping Gout grounded amidst the buzz. He stressed that the young prodigy should focus on developing his own identity and growing as an athlete. Templeton remarked, “I’ve avoided using the ‘UB’ (Usain Bolt) comparison. I think that’s unfair to a young athlete.” He added, “For 18 months I’ve basically said a blanket ‘no’ to every media outlet in Australia that has asked. We just want to allow him to be a normal kid at school. We don’t want him to have any distractions.”

As Gout Gout continues to shatter barriers and rewrite records, one question looms large in the minds of track enthusiasts: Will he follow in Bolt’s footsteps, or is he destined to forge his unique legacy? Only time—and his electrifying performances on the track—will tell the tale of this rising star.