At just 17 years old, Gout Gout is turning heads in the world of sprinting, drawing praise from some of the biggest names in track and field. The Australian sprinter has been setting blistering times in the 200m, and now Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo has added his voice to the growing list of admirers.

“His style of running, it’s top-notch,” Tebogo told journalists ahead of the Maurie Plant Meet in Melbourne this week. “I believe he’s going to be the next big thing for the continent.” Even sprint legend Usain Bolt has acknowledged Gout’s talent, previously stating that the young athlete “ looks like young me.”

Gout burst onto the scene in 2022, clocking an impressive 10.57 seconds in the 100m at just 14 years old. However, it was his performance at the World Athletics U20 Championships in 2023 that truly put him on the global map. His 200m time of 20.60 seconds was 0.01 seconds faster than Bolt’s best at the same age.

His rapid progression has continued this season, most notably with a world-leading 20.05 seconds in the 200m earlier this month. He then became the first Australian sprinter to break the 20-second barrier, recording 19.98 seconds at the Queensland State Championships. Unfortunately, due to illegal wind conditions (+3.6m/s), the time won’t stand as an official record.

Now, all eyes are on Gout as he prepares to race in Melbourne against Australia’s current fastest man, Lachie Kennedy.

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