Sprint sensation Gout Gout has signed a professional contract with Adidas

After going viral and drawing comparisons to Usain Bolt, the Aussie teenage sprint sensation has made a huge career move.

Australian teenage sprint sensation Gout Gout has turned professional after signing a contract with sportswear manufacturer Adidas.

Gout, 16, has drawn comparisons with sprinting legend Usain Bolt, particular over 200m.

Eight-time Olympic Games gold medallist Bolt’s personal best when he was 16 over the distance was 20.13 seconds, while Gout’s is 20.16.

Gout won a 200m silver medal the this year’s world athletics under 20 championships in Peru, while his best time over 100m is 10.29 seconds.

“I’m super excited to have signed with Adidas,” Queenslander Gout told Citius Mag.

“I’m not stopping here. I’ll work so hard to repay the faith they have shown me.

“I’ll stay hungry and chase down what’s next.”

Gout Gout first popped on my radar when I saw social media abuzz over this video of him.

A promising talent who will only be 24 when the Olympics come to Australia in 2032. ⬇️pic.twitter.com/EsGYIIfgZl

— Chris Chavez (@ChrisChavez) October 28, 2024

Australian athletics great Sally Pearson said “maybe we are seeing the next Usain Bolt” when asked about Gout.

“How lucky are we to have that in Australian sport,” Pearson said.

“Let’s just see if he can keep continuing that rise over the next few years.”

Gout was born in Ipswich in 2007, two years after his parents migrated from South Sudan.

He attends Ipswich Grammar School, is coached by Diane Sheppard and is managed by James Templeton, who also represents Australian athletics stars Peter Bol, Cameron Myers and Sarah Carli.

Gout, who will compete in the 100m and 200m sprint events at this weekend’s Queensland All Schools Athletics Championships, told Fox Sports that being compared to Bolt was a “great feeling”.

“I’m trying to make a name for myself. If I can get to the level he was, that would be a great achievement,” he said.

Templeton said Gout’s contract with Adidas would “open doors” for the young athlete.

“It’s a good part of his journey,” Templeton said.

“There’s no rush for him. He/'s on a good path.”

Turning professional means that Gout won’t be able to join the United States college system, but it’s understood that was not in his plans regardless of whether he had a contract or not.

Originally published as Sprint sensation Gout Gout has signed a professional contract with Adidas