At just 17 years old, Australian sprinting sensation Gout Gout is rapidly becoming one of the most exciting names in athletics, but fame and fortune haven’t changed him.
Born in Queensland to South Sudanese parents who fled conflict before his birth, his journey to the top has been nothing short of remarkable. Initially passionate about football, it wasn’t long before he discovered his natural talent for sprinting. His breakout moment came at just 15, when he smashed the Australian U18 men’s 200m record with a blistering 20.87 seconds at the Australian Junior Athletics Championships.
The defining moment of his young career arrived in December 2024, when he stunned the athletics world by clocking 20.04 seconds to win the 200m final at the Australian All Schools Athletics Championship. The feat not only placed him ahead of Usain Bolt’s record for the same age group but also broke Peter Norman’s long-standing Australian and Oceanian record from 1968.
As accolades and endorsements begin to follow his meteoric rise, Gout has displayed a maturity well beyond his years. In a recent GQ interview, the teenager revealed he has stayed grounded despite the early financial rewards of his success.
“I’ve saved a lot and I bought myself a new car when I got my Ps, so that’s probably the biggest purchase I’ve made so far. I haven’t gone wild,” he shared.
What’s perhaps even more telling is his focus on securing a future not just for himself but for his family.
“Long term, I’d like to set myself up and set my family up,” he added.
While global stardom may still be ahead, Gout has already delivered on the big stage, taking silver in the 200m at the 2024 World Championships in Lima and contributing to Australia’s fifth-place finish in the 4x100m relay. Domestically, he claimed the U20 titles in both the 100m and 200m at this year’s Australian Athletics Championships, clocking phenomenal times of 9.99 and 19.84 seconds respectively.
His electric performances and rapid ascent have inevitably drawn comparisons to sprint legend Usain Bolt. And for Gout, those comparisons aren’t daunting, they’re a target. Speaking to FOX Sports Australia, he declared.
“The limit is just obviously winning Olympics and winning World Championships, and honestly dominating like Bolt did. I think that’s a limit that’s reachable for me.”
Next up, Gout Gout will test himself against Europe’s best at July’s U23 Diamond League event in Monaco, before turning his focus to the senior World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this September.
