17-year-old Gout Gout lit up the Australian Athletics Championships on April 10, 2025, clocking a blistering 9.99 seconds in both the heats and the finals of the men’s 100m event.
This double sub-10 feat not only stunned the sporting world but seemingly fulfilled a bold prophecy made weeks earlier by none other than US Olympic legend Justin Gatlin.
The young Australian sprinting prodigy had already been on the radar of athletics fans, but his performance at the Maurie Plant Meet on March 29 was a moment of truth. Facing Lachlan Kennedy, a 60m silver medalist from the 2025 World Indoors, Gout Gout narrowly missed out on gold with a commendable 20.30 in the 200m, just four-hundredths of a second shy of Kennedy. While some saw it as a setback, Gatlin saw something more.
On the Ready Set Go podcast, the former Olympic champion compared Gout to Quincy Wilson, both overcoming early setbacks to dominate.
“I think Gout Gout is going to take this loss and mentally prepare himself to be an even bigger competitor,” Gatlin said confidently.
Gatlin urged the sprinter to list top athletes worldwide and record each race outcome against them as win or loss.
“That’ll give you the confidence and clarity of your progression,” he said.
While no one can confirm whether Gout tuned into the podcast, his performance on April 10 speaks volumes.
This wasn’t just a win, it was a statement. A teenager had stepped onto the track and delivered a performance worthy of sprinting royalty. Just two weeks ago, silence greeted him at Lakeside, now, an eruption of cheers rose from a stunned, ecstatic crowd. Australia, and perhaps the world, had just witnessed the arrival of a new sprinting superstar.