Australian teenage sprint sensation Gout Gout is brimming with confidence and determination after receiving words of encouragement from sprint legend Usain Bolt. The 17-year-old narrowly missed out on a place in the men’s 200m final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, but he insists this is only the beginning of his journey to greatness.
Gout produced a strong performance in the heats, clocking 20.23 seconds to secure a podium finish and progress to the semifinals. However, the level of competition in the last four proved too strong, as he finished fourth, falling just short of his first-ever senior final.
Despite the disappointment, the young sprinter found motivation in praise from none other than Bolt, the fastest man alive. The Jamaican icon has long admired Gout’s potential, noting that the Australian reminds him of his own early years.
“He has a great future. If he continues on this track, it’s going to be good, but it’s all about getting everything right. I mean, it’s never just easy,” Bolt said.
For Gout, those words carry immense weight. “It definitely feels very inspiring to hear that the best to ever do it is seeing my talent, my abilities, and how far I can go,” he said. “His words mean a lot to me, and they inspire me to keep doing what I do, knowing that I have great support.”
The teenager added that the experience of racing among the world’s best has strengthened his belief that he belongs on the global stage. “I just need to keep showing up, doing my thing, and I am confident that come the next World Championship, things will be better. I just focus on my training, my game plan, and on getting better.”
Already a World Junior Championship silver medalist, Gout has made his mark in senior competition by standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the finest sprinters in the world. His semifinal run, though short of the final, was a statement that he is ready to challenge for top honors in the years ahead.
With his sights now firmly set on the 2027 World Championships in Beijing, Gout is determined to turn Bolt’s belief into reality and cement his place as one of the world’s fastest men.
