The new Usain Bolt? 17-year-old high school student sets the year’s best time in the 200 meters

Usain Bolt retired from athletics in 2017 as an eight-time Olympic gold medalist, an 11-time World Champion and the world record holder in the 100 meters and 200 meters, records he set in 2009. Now, however, a new sprinting talent is being tipped to enjoy the same kind of dominance as the Jamaican.

Gout Gout’s sprinting achievements draw Bolt comparisons

No man of any age has run the 200 meters faster in 2025 than Gout Gout, a 17-year-old Australian. In the heats of the Queensland State Championships, the teenager ran a year-best 20.05 seconds, comfortably beating the previous quickest of 20.13 seconds by the Auburn Tigers’ Makanakaishe Charamba at the SEC Indoor Track & Field Championships in Texas last month.

Gout’s PB over that distance is 20.04, which he recorded as a 16-year-old last December, breaking an Australian record that had stood since 1968. That time is the second fastest of all time at under-18 level, surpassing Bolt’s record in that category.

A day earlier, Gout ran the fourth-fastest 100-meter time for an under 18 in history, posting a personal best of 10.04 seconds.

In the finals of the Queensland State Championships, the young sprinter became the first ever Australian to run the 200 meters in less than 20 seconds (19.98 seconds), although the severity of the tailwind meant the time didn’t officially stand.

Similarities between Bolt and Gout have been commented on by a whole host of onlookers, with the two having registered comparable times at similar ages. The Jamaican himself has even waded into the debate, saying the Australian “looks like a young me”.

Who is Gout Gout?

Gout was born in Ipswich, Queensland, approximately 30 miles from Brisbane in the east of Australia. His parents both hail from the East African country of South Sudan and moved to Australia two years before his was born.

Although he continues to compete for Ipswich Grammar School, he has already turned professional and his achievements earned him a sponsorship deal with Adidas in October.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.