Usain Bolt has made it clear who he believes holds the key to finally breaking his iconic 100m world record, and it’s neither Noah Lyles nor teenage sensation Gout Gout.
The Jamaican sprint legend, whose blistering 9.58-second mark from 2009 remains untouched, recently shared his thoughts on the future of sprinting speedsters. Noah Lyles’ 9.79-second Olympic gold in Paris impressed, but Bolt doubted he could beat his historic time.
Lyles has been one of the standout names in global sprinting, steadily narrowing the gap to Bolt’s record with every season. Yet, Bolt’s prediction bypassed him,as well as rising Australian prodigy Gout Gout.
Gout, just 17 years old, has been turning heads in recent months. The young Australian claimed a memorable victory at the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold event in Czechia, storming to a national record of 20.02 seconds in the 200m. For perspective, Bolt himself ran 19.93 seconds at a meet in Bermuda before turning 18, making the comparisons inevitable.
Bolt thinks it’s too early to consider Gout for the fastest 100m ever run.
Speaking on The Fix Podcast earlier this year, the eight-time Olympic champion put his faith in his fellow Jamaican, Oblique Seville.
“I feel like Oblique can do it,” Bolt said.
“If he can stay fit during the season and get it right, I feel he can do it. Because I am sure there is something there, the ability to do it.”
Seville, a consistent performer on the international stage, showed promise at the Paris Olympics by winning his semi-final with a sizzling 9.81 seconds, ahead of Lyles. Unfortunately, a flare-up of a lingering groin issue saw him fade to eighth in the final, crossing the line in 9.91 seconds.
Bolt remains undeterred in his confidence.
“Some of the time Oblique can be fragile,” he admitted.
“It’s a matter of the work situation or whatever, but if he’s doing enough work, he can do it. It’s a matter of time because he’s not missed the finals yet, so it’s just to get over the hump.”