Australian teenage sprinting sensation Gout Gout has broken Usain Bolt's long-standing record at the Under-20 World Championships, clocking an impressive 20.60 seconds in the 200 metres.
The 16-year-old's remarkable performance in September surpassed Bolt's time by 0.01 seconds, breaking a record that had stood for 22 years.
The achievement has caught the attention of the legendary Jamaican sprinter himself, who has offered words of wisdom to the young athlete.
Gout's breakthrough performance marks him as one of athletics' most promising young talents, following in the footsteps of the eight-time Olympic gold medallist.
The record-breaking run has already led to significant recognition, with the teenager joining the elite roster of athletes at Adidas alongside Olympic champion Noah Lyles.
Speaking on the High Performance Podcast with Jake Humphrey, Bolt reflected on his early career challenges and offered insights for the younger generation.
Usain Bolt has given advice to Gout Gout after breaking his record
PA
"When I started out, I didn't understand the concept of 'being great' because I was young," Bolt said.
"I was 15 when I won the world juniors, I was really talented so I didn't have to work as hard as it was just talent, as I was winning and winning."
The sprint legend revealed how his transition to professional competition brought unexpected challenges.
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"I remember when I got to the professional level, and I felt like it was just going to be easy," he explained.
"And I got to the stage where I would go to meets and I would lose. And I was like, 'This is strange, this is new'. So it took me a while to understand."
These candid reflections serve as valuable guidance for young athletes like Gout.
Gout has embraced the comparisons to the legendary Jamaican whilst maintaining his own identity.
"It's pretty cool because Usain Bolt is arguably the greatest athlete of all time, and just being compared to him is a great feeling," Gout said.
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"Obviously, I'm Gout Gout, so I'm trying to make a name for myself. If I can get to the level he was, that would be a great achievement."
The young Australian has already demonstrated remarkable potential, posting a personal best of 10.29 in the 100m.
This year, he clocked 20.29 seconds, the fastest time by an Australian in 31 years, with his sights now set on Peter Norman's 1968 national record of 20.06.
His meteoric rise has attracted attention from major sponsors, with Adidas signing him to their elite roster alongside 100m Olympic champion Noah Lyles.
Gout Gout rolls 20.29 (1.2) and the QLD schools champs
— Matt Lynch (@Mattlynch_) November 3, 2024
State national and Area u18 and u20 record.
State open record
4th aus open all time.
4th world u18 all time. pic.twitter.com/CnqA1qSzp0
Bolt's own career trajectory after his junior achievements offers a glimpse of what might lie ahead for Gout.
Three years after setting his Under-20 time of 20.40, Bolt claimed silver in the 2007 World Championships at age 21.
His breakthrough came in 2008 when he set a world record of 9.72 in the 100m, later improving it to an astounding 9.58.
The same year marked his historic Beijing Olympics performance, where he claimed both 100m and 200m gold medals.
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He set a world record of 19.30 in the 200m at Beijing, later lowering it to 19.19 in 2009 - a mark that still stands today.
With such remarkable progression from junior success to global dominance, Gout appears well-positioned to follow in the legendary sprinter's footsteps.
