Australian sprinting sensation Gout Gout is poised to make his mark on the global athletics scene tonight as he competes in the 200 metre heats at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. The 17-year-old prodigy, born to South Sudanese parents who fled their war-torn homeland, will race in heat five of six, with an estimated start time of 21:43 AEST.
To secure a spot in the semi-finals, Gout must finish among the top three in his heat or achieve one of the six fastest times overall. He faces stiff competition, including Makanakaishe Charamba of Zimbabwe and Bryan Levell from Jamaica, both of whom have personal-best times under 20 seconds.
Usain Bolt’s Legacy and Gout’s Potential
Three-time defending champion Noah Lyles and Olympic gold medallist Letsile Tebogo are also in the mix, each vying to claim their place as successors to sprinting legend Usain Bolt. Bolt, who retired in 2017 as an eight-time Olympic gold medallist and still holds the world records for the 100m and 200m events, has expressed admiration for Gout’s potential.
During a recent press conference in Tokyo, Bolt shared, “It’s always easier when you’re younger. The transition from junior to senior is always tougher. There are many factors that will determine if he’s going to be great.”
Gout made headlines last year at the Australian All Schools Athletics Championship, clocking a remarkable 20.04 seconds, becoming only the second athlete to outrun Bolt’s Under-18 best of 20.13 seconds. He further shattered the long-standing Australian national senior record previously held by the late Peter Norman since 1968.
In June, he improved his time to 20.02 seconds at the Golden Spike meeting in Ostrava. This rapid ascent has led many to speculate whether he could become the next dominant figure in sprinting, similar to Bolt.
Family Support and Cultural Significance
Despite the attention surrounding his athletic prowess, Gout remains grounded, thanks largely to his family. He continues to share a room with his older brother, Mawjen, and attributes much of his focus and determination to his parents. His father, Bona, is a food technician and also drives for Uber, while his mother, Monica, works as a cleaner.
The family has faced challenges regarding the pronunciation of Gout’s name. Bona insists that it should be pronounced Guot and is frustrated by the association with the medical condition “gout.” “His name is Guot, it’s supposed to be Guot,” he emphasized in a statement to 7NEWS. He expressed the cultural importance of the name and the significance it holds for their community.
James Templeton, Gout’s manager, has made clear that the name will remain as Gout Gout, emphasizing its distinct pronunciation.
As Gout prepares for his race, he acknowledges the pressure of comparisons to Bolt, saying, “It feels great because everyone wants to be compared to Usain, but at times it does get a bit overwhelming.” He remains focused on his identity as an athlete, stating, “I’m just trying to be myself.”
Looking ahead, Gout plans to return to school after the championships and has aspirations to study psychology at university. With his family’s unwavering support, he is determined to navigate the challenges of both athletics and education.
As Gout embarks on this journey, his growing fanbase is already rallying behind him, playfully dubbing him “Gout of this world.” Tonight’s performance in Tokyo could be the first step towards a bright future, culminating in aspirations for gold at the Brisbane 2032 Olympics. The World Athletics Championships can be viewed on major Australian networks, including Nine and SBS.
