'Immense talent' - Usain Bolt aims subtle dig at Gout Gout with honest reality check

Usain Bolt acknowledges that Gout Gout is an 'immense talent' but reiterated he still has a lot to do if he is to fulfil his enormous potential.

The 18-year-old sprinter is already the Oceanian and world under-20 record holder in the 200 metres. Gout became the second-fastest U20 athlete in history when he set a time of 19.67 in the 200 metres, faster than the 19.93 personal best Bolt had at the same age.

Bolt still holds the 200m world record at 19.19 seconds, evidence that things can change with age and that being the best youngster does not guarantee the same success in later life. However, there is still enormous excitement surrounding the Australian sprinter, who is viewed as a potential challenger to Bolt's incredible records.

Gout picked up the silver medal at the World Under-20 Championships in 2024 and competed at the senior event in Tokyo last year. The teenager failed to make it beyond the semi-final stages at the senior event, but showcased the raw potential that has so many people excited for his future in the sport.

Bolt believes the youngster can go to the very top in sprinting, but he also warned that there have previously been many others tipped to be the next big thing who have failed to live up to the hype.

"I’m happy to hear youngsters coming up," he told talkSPORT. "But I’ve heard a lot about people breaking my records for years now, so it’s just one of those things, people show talent and it’s going to come up.

"But I can see he has immense talent and if he keeps working at it, I think he can go a long way."

Gout has already begun training alongside current Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles and is set to face him competitively for the first time at the Ostrava Golden Spike next month.

Lyles, who has never raced in Ostrava, will be hoping to overtake Kishane Thompson's 150m best of 14.92, which was recorded at the Miramar Invitational in Florida last month. Gout, meanwhile, will return to Czechia after winning the 200m in 20.02 seconds last June.

Last summer, Gout jetted out to train with fellow Adidas athlete Lyles for two weeks and was met with a new level of intensity.

"The athletes there are obviously a lot faster and a lot stronger," Gout told Highflyer. "So you always have to bring your A-game. You always have to, like, lock in and focus.”

"Noah was telling me to always be myself and be level-headed, for sure but to learn how to say no, especially in situations with fans."