Gout Gout’s surprising Usain Bolt revelation amid bold plan to become Australia’s greatest ever athlete

Teen sprint sensation Gout Gout has let his times do the talking to date. but now the Aussie has spoken out about the comparisons to sprint king Usain Bolt.

Australian sprint sensation Gout Gout has revealed while he was initially ‘overwhelmed’ by the comparisons to sprint king Usain Bolt he has quickly become sick of them, declaring he is a star in his own right and not just the next Bolt.

The teenage sprinting phenom got the whole athletics world talking in December when he broke the Australian 200m sprint record set by Peter Norman (20.06) 56 years ago, stopping the clock in 20.04 seconds.

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Since then the 17-year-old has beaten Norman’s time again not just once but twice, with his 200m heat run at the Queensland Athletics Championships in Brisbane this month coming in at 20.05.

He backed it up with an unbelievable 19.98 in the final – although it didn’t count in the record books due to the tailwind being too strong.

But regardless it showed just how much of a star the teenager is and once again saw Gout compared to legendary Jamaican sprinter Bolt.

However, while stating originally the comparisons to Bolt were “overwhelming”, he says they have grown old fast.

And Gout now hopes they stop altogether as he continues to carve his own path in the sport.

“In the moment it feels great because everyone wants to be compared to Usain Bolt, the fastest athlete alive,” Gout said in a 7News Spotlight interview with Bruce McAvaney.

“At times it does get a bit overwhelming, but now that I’ve grown up, I’m a bit mature and my circle really helps me stay level and I’m just trying to make a name for myself.

“Although I do run like Usain Bolt and I do maybe look like him, I’m just trying to be myself and trying to be the next Gout.”

Gout Gout has opened up about the Usain Bolt comparisons. Image: Getty

Just how good Gout could become is what all of Australia wants to know, with an Olympic sprinting medal suddenly not seeming so far out of reach.

And Australian Olympic great John Steffenson told news.com.au that the whole world is talking about Gout Gout and another Cathy Freeman moment could be on the cards come Brisbane 3032.

“He is fun to watch. It is at the point where it’s just fun and exciting and the world is on notice and really Australia haven’t had a legit sprinter since Matt Shirvington, Patrick Johnson and Peter Walsh and they haven’t done what this kid is doing,” Steffenson told news.com.au after cracking the 20-second mark.

“Gout Gout has done this at just 16, 17 and even if nothing happens from here what Gout Gout has done has set-up Australian sprinting for the future.

Australian sprinting great John Steffenson believes the sky is the limit for Gout Gout.

“We should be in debt for the work he has done because he’s given us some belief that we can compete again with the best in the world.

“When I speak internationally everyone is curious about him and even more importantly every young boy and girl in this country that has seen what he is doing now has that seed of belief that they can do it and it is priceless for our sport.

“He is doing all the right things so without a doubt the world is his oyster and we as the Australian public should give him time, enjoy what we are seeing, celebrate that he is an Australian and that we have Brisbane Olympics in our backyard and come then potentially he is lining up and we are cheering him home in another Cathy Freeman moment.”

Gout will next be able to impress Australia again at the Maurie Plant Meet in Melbourne on March 29.

Originally published as Gout Gout’s surprising Usain Bolt revelation amid bold plan to become Australia’s greatest ever athlete