If you know anything about track, you are likely familiar with the name Usain Bolt. He is the current world record holder for the 100-meter, 200-meter, and 4×100-meter men’s relay. He boasts times of 9.58 seconds in the 100m, 19.19 seconds in the 200m, and 36.84 in the 4x100m.
Ever since he retired, the world has been asking the same question: “Who will be the next Usain Bolt?” We might have just figured out who will fulfill that huge role.
On December 6, at the 2024 Australian All Schools Athletics Championship, a 16-year-old by the name Gout Gout ran a blazing time of 10.04 wind-aided and a 20.04 200m wind-legal in the rounds. This cements him as the sixth all-time fastest U18 100m runner.
What is even more impressive is that he broke the national record with a 20.04, 0.02 seconds quicker than the previous record of 20.06 held by Peter Norman. Later in the season, he smashed those personal bests with a 19.84-second 200-meter dash on April 13, 2025, and a 9.99-second 100-meter dash on April 10, both wind-aided.
Where did this 16-year-old athlete come from?
Born on December 29, 2007, Gout Gout was born in Ipswich, Queensland, to parents from South Sudan. In his early years, Gout Gout enjoyed playing soccer before he set his priorities on track.
In 2022, when he was 14 years old, he smashed the Australian under-16 100m with a blistering time of 10.57. The following year, at 15 years old, Gout Gout broke the Australian under-18 200m with a time of 20.87 at the Australian Junior Athletics Championships. Then in early 2024, he ran a speedy time of 10.29 in the U18 Boys 100m at the Queensland Athletics Championships in Brisbane, and 20.60 at the 2024 World Athletics U20 Championships in Lima, Peru.
Now fast-forward to December 2024, Gout Gout is being called the next Usain Bolt for multiple reasons.
Firstly, the 200m mark he achieved on December 6 is faster than Usain Bolt’s 16-year-old record of 20.13. Gout Gout also has a very similar build to Usain Bolt as he stands at 6 feet 2 inches (188 cm). Lastly, his running style is almost identical to Usain Bolt’s as he fully utilizes his height by taking long, quick strides.
These factors combined make his top-end speed extremely quick, as in his remarkable 20.04 200m, he closed with a 9.36 100m split, which is unheard of for a 16-year-old. His split also puts him as the 10th fastest closing 100m of all time, ahead of Justin Gatlin, Andre De Grasse and Maurice Green, just to name a few.
Once he cleans up his start, he will be lethal on the track with his quick top-end speed. So keep your eyes peeled for the LA 2028 Olympics. Gout Gout might even edge out Noah Lyles and Letsile Tebogo in the 200m.
