Gout Gout is one of the most promising sprinting prospects in the world. And the teenage Australian sensation understandably does not lack confidence.
Last year, the 17-year-old speedster broke Usian Bolt's junior world record in the 200m with a time of 20.04s.
That mark would have seen Gout finish sixth in the 200m finals at the Olympics in Paris last year.
American sprint superstar Noah Lyles took broke at that distance in the 2024 Games despite battling covid, and he'd already won a gold medal in the 100m earlier in the Olympics in the French capital.
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Lyles is the top sprinter in the world and one of the most charismatic athletes of recent times. And Gout is coming for his spot as the fastest man on the planet.
“I’m trying to show you what’s up. I’m trying to come out there with a bang,” Gout said on an episode of the Beyond the Records podcasts, with Lyles also a guest on the show.
“Whatever I’ve got to do to show Noah I’m coming for that spot.
“Obviously it’s a learning experience, but deep down I’m trying to get a medal for sure, be in that final and running up Noah or trying to chase Noah down.
The uber-confident US star appreciated Gout's ambition.
"That’s what I love to hear," he responded.
“I want you to come up to me and say, ‘Yeah, I am going to take your spot.’”
And Gout, whose current fastest 100m time is 10.17s, also spoke about what it's like to be compared to eight-time Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt.
“I’m trying to be the next Gout Gout," he said. "Being compared to Usain Bolt, everyone wants to be the next star.
“Usain Bolt is the best sprinter and best athlete.
“To be compared to him is obviously great, but I’m Gout Gout and I want to make my name as big as his.
“I want people younger to be ‘your going to be the next Gout Gout’. I want to be like that.”
Topics: Athletics, Noah Lyles, Usain Bolt, Gout Gout, Olympics
Ryan Baldi