Grant Holloway has refused to accept the title of GOAT despite his dominance in the 110mH ever since turning pro in 2019.
Australian sprint prodigy Gout Gout has drawn comparisons to the legendary Usain Bolt, with many touting him as the Jamaican’s heir apparent.
However, the 17-year-old phenom has made it clear—he’s not here to fill anyone’s shoes. Instead, he wants to carve out a legacy so profound that future generations aspire to be the next Gout Gout.
“Obviously, I’m trying to be the next Gout Gout. Being compared to Usain Bolt is great because he’s the best sprinter, the greatest athlete,” he told Olympic champions Noah Lyles and Grant Holloway on their Beyond the Records podcast.
The Australian sprint sensation was in Florida to learn from Noah Lyles and his coach Lance Brauman and has returned home with a lot of assurances about his career.
“But I’m Gout Gout, and I want to make my name as big as his. I want younger athletes to one day say, ‘You’re going to be the next Gout Gout.’”
Gout’s meteoric rise in Australian sprinting isn’t just hype—his performances back it up. He stunned the athletics world when he clocked a wind-assisted 10.04s in the 100m, making him the fastest Australian sprinter in 56 years.
He followed that up with a blistering 10.17s in the final, smashing Sebastian Sultana’s U18 national record of 10.27s.
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But his most jaw-dropping feat came in the 200m, where he shattered Peter Norman’s national record with a stunning 20.04s, surpassing the 20.06s Norman set en route to silver at the 1968 Olympics.
With such rapid progress, Gout has already set his sights on taking on the world’s best, particularly reigning 200m world champion Noah Lyles. He didn’t mince words when speaking about his ambitions.
“I’m trying to show you what’s up,” he declared to Lyles on Beyond the Records. “I’m trying to come out there with a bang. Whatever I’ve got to do to show Noah I’m coming for that spot. It’s a learning experience, but deep down, I’m trying to get a medal for sure—be in that final and run up on Noah or try to chase him down.”
While his 100m times are electrifying, Gout considers the 200m his signature event, aligning with Lyles’ own preference.
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“I am not really a power athlete. The 200 is my best event by far, I reckon. The 100 is obviously the big one, but the 200 is spicy. If you have a good start and top-end speed, once you flip off the bend, you’re flying. That’s why it’s my best event.”
Born in Brisbane to South Sudanese parents, Gout’s rise has been nothing short of sensational. As he gears up for the Queensland Championships in March, he is keenly aware of the growing expectations surrounding him.
“It crosses my mind sometimes. Just me being me and knowing that people are literally looking up to me and trying to be me—it’s crazy to think about. I was once that kid trying to be the next Noah Lyles, the next Usain Bolt, the next icon. To now be in that conversation is surreal.”
If his recent trajectory is any indication, the world is about to witness the emergence of a sprinter determined to craft his own path—one that doesn’t follow in Bolt’s footsteps but forges a trail just as legendary.
