Gout Gout, the Australian prodigy shaking up the world of sprinting
At just 17 years old, Gout Gout is already turning heads with his blistering times and drawing comparisons to the sport’s all-time greats. Born in 2007 in Australia to a South Sudanese family, this young sprinter is on track to rewrite the history of athletics.
Gout Gout, the Australian prodigy shaking up the world of sprinting
On paper, his performances are jaw-dropping. At 16, he clocked 10.04 seconds in the 100 meters. And had the wind not exceeded the legal limit during a race last April, his 9.99 would have been officially recorded. While his 100m speed is already remarkable, it’s over 200 meters that Gout Gout is making the biggest impression.
Just days before his 17th birthday, he broke the Oceania 200m record, which had stood since 1968 and was held by Peter Norman. On the track in Brisbane, he blazed to a time of 20.04 seconds, shaving two hundredths off the previous mark. A historic achievement, already being likened by some to Usain Bolt’s feats at the same age. On the YouTube channel Motion Athlete, a simulation even shows Gout Gout beating Bolt by nine centimeters at 17. Had the wind conditions been legal, the young Australian could have gone as low as 19.84 seconds.
More than just a promising talent, Gout Gout is already a reference point. He is now regarded as the fastest 16-year-old in history over 200 meters. But it’s not just his times that captivate specialists—it’s also his style: upright torso, a massive 2.60-meter stride (compared to Bolt’s 2.45 meters), and a natural fluidity that suggests even more room for improvement.
His short-term goal: the 2026 World Junior Championships, where he’ll be aiming for the podium—or better. To refine his craft, he trained in the United States alongside 200m Olympic champion Noah Lyles. This has brought him even closer to the sport’s elite. Major brands have taken notice: at the end of 2024, Gout Gout signed a sponsorship deal with Adidas worth an estimated $6 million.
Still, the Australian phenomenon is only human. On March 28, he suffered his first defeat at the Melbourne meet, losing to 21-year-old compatriot Lachlan Kennedy. Just days later, he finished second in the final of the Stawell Gift, beaten by a schoolteacher who benefited from a head start in the handicapped race.
These rare setbacks do little to diminish the potential of this rising star in global sprinting. Barely of age, Gout Gout is already forging a path to the top of world athletics—with one clear goal: to challenge the legends.