An Olympic star has questioned the hype surrounding Australian sprint sensation Gout Gout, who has been labelled the 'next Usain Bolt'.
The 17-year-old has already emerged as one of the most exciting prospects in athletics after a series of standout performances at a young age.
Last year, Gout ran 20.04 seconds over 200m, breaking Peter Norman’s long-standing Oceanian record, as well as Bolt’s world age-16 best.
He continued his rise this year by competing at his first major international meet.
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As the youngest athlete in the 200m field at the World Championships he reached the semi-finals, but finished fourth and therefore missed out on a place in the final.
Bolt was among those impressed, saying Gout had shown a similar level of talent to what he displayed at the same age.
That praise has already raised expectations, despite the Australian only just starting out in his senior career.
But not everyone has been happy with the level of attention he has received.
Five-time Olympic champion Kaylee McKeown questioned the focus on athletics compared to swimming.
She told Code Sports: "You see athletes that are in athletics.
"They [Gout] make a semi-final, it's the best thing ever.
"[Then] you see swimmers making a semi-final...it's hardly making the papers."
Despite the growing attention, there has been no suggestion Gout is getting carried away by the comparisons.
In a recent interview with the Daily Mail, he spoke about his aspirations in the sport and his long-term goals, including competing at a home Olympics in Brisbane in 2032.
He said: "It's definitely inspiring.
"Because to know that the rest of the world thinks and believes I'm looking like him and could potentially be him is something that can only fill me with confidence.
"And to be compared to the greatest athlete I've ever seen is amazing.
"My ultimate dream is Olympic gold, hopefully in the 200m in Los Angeles in 2028 and then on to Brisbane in 2032."
Gout added: "Bolt’s definitely a prime example because he doesn't really let anything get to him.
"He's a really chill guy. He’s definitely up there in my all-time greats.
"In track and field, I’d mention Noah Lyles, obviously, he’s a good mate."
Gout has only recently finished his schoolboy athletics career, competing at the GPS Track and Field Championships in October.
He skipped the 200m, instead competing in the 400m and 4x100m relay, breaking his own meeting record in the 400m to win with a personal-best 46.14 seconds..
Reflecting on his final schoolboy appearance , he said he was "sad but definitely grateful".
Topics: Gout Gout, Athletics, Usain Bolt, Olympics
James Taylor