Gout Gout looks set to become one of the stars of the Olympic Games in years to come.
The 17-year-old burst onto the scene after becoming the Oceanian record holder in the 200 metres, producing a phenomenal time of 20.02 seconds.
He is set to compete on home soil at the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane alongside record holder Eddie Osei-Nketia, who is eligible to represent Australia on the world stage after switching international allegiance.
Gout believes that it was Gods plan for him to compete at a home Olympic Games, revealing that his parents chose between making Canada and Australia their home when he was younger.
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“Definitely for sure,” he said at an adidas event after being asked if it was destiny for him to compete in Brisbane when the city hosts the Olympic Games in 2032.
“I think God kind of made (my parents) follow that path and they ended up in Queensland. There was a choice between Canada and Australia, and I think per God’s will that they landed in Queensland for sure.”
Gout has also caught the attention of sprinting legend Usain Bolt, who advised the 17-year-old to surround himself with good people in order to achieve his goals.
Gout admits it feels great to think that Bolt knows who he is.
“It definitely feels great because Usain Bolt is literally the greatest track athlete we have ever seen - and arguably the greatest athlete we've seen,” said Gout.
“So it definitely feels great having someone of that caliber know me and just know I'm on that path to greatness as well.
“Just balancing that ambition and telling myself it takes time is definitely something important and obviously, I think I struggled a bit during the start of it all a couple of years ago but now I know that things don't happen overnight.
“I’m only 17. These guys have 10, maybe even 15 years on me so definitely telling myself that time will come.”
Topics: Olympics, Gout Gout, Usain Bolt
Jonathan Bray