Gout Gout: Australian ‘Next Usain Bolt’ Status in Jeopardy as Teenage Stars Emerge

Bolt has inspired Australian sprint star Gout Gout, but rising teenage talents threaten his claim as athletics’ brightest young sensation.

Australian sprinting prodigy Gout Gout may soon face his fiercest competition yet, as two younger teenage athletes burst onto the global athletics stage, threatening his much-hyped status as the natural heir to Usain Bolt.

For months, the 17-year-old Australian has been celebrated as the next big thing in sprinting, breaking records from a young age and drawing comparisons to the Jamaican legend.

PAY ATTENTION: Stay updated with the Latest Sports News in Kenya from Pulse Sports

Gout has embraced the tag, making it clear that being compared to the fastest man in history is something he thrives on.

“It definitely feels great, I’ve heard that a lot of sprinters run here really good. I know Usain Bolt ran here nine times, so the event clearly has a great tradition,” Gout said in June as per SportBible.

“Who doesn’t want to be Usain Bolt? Being compared to Usain Bolt feels great but I would like to put my personality in the upcoming story.”

However, the competition is closing in — and quickly. Last month, Japanese sprint sensation Sorato Shimizu, just 16 years old, smashed the world record for the fastest 100m in the under-18 category.

His blistering run of 10 seconds flat at the Inter High School Championships not only secured victory by almost three-tenths of a second but also broke the previous record of 10.06 seconds, held jointly by Christian Miller and Puripol Boonson.

The performance turned heads in athletics circles, with many experts predicting Shimizu could dominate sprinting’s future. His time was not just exceptional for his age — it would have been competitive at elite senior levels.

Japanese Sprint Star Sorato Shimizu Breaks U18 World Record

While Shimizu poses a clear threat to Gout’s supremacy in the 100m, another prodigy is emerging in middle-distance events.

Earlier this month in Oregon, American teenager Cooper Lutkenhaus stunned the athletics world with a 1:42.27 in the 800m. At just 16, Lutkenhaus became the 18th-fastest man in history over the distance, finishing second only to 2019 world champion Donavan Brazier.

His average speed of 17.5 mph in the race would have been enough to win Olympic gold in every Games except 2024, 2016, and 2012.

“Cooper Lutkenhaus beat two world champs and finished a tenth behind another [Brazier]. It’s mind-blowing. There are no superlatives. His performance makes high-school LeBron [James] look like a nobody,” said renowned coach Steve Magness.

Cooper Lutkenhaus Stuns With Historic 800m Time

Even Brazier, the man who narrowly beat him, was taken aback.

“I saw someone coming up and I was like, ‘Dang, this could be the high-schooler,’” he said.

“This kid’s phenomenal. I’m glad I’m 28 and hopefully won’t have to deal with him in his prime because that dude is definitely special.”

For Lutkenhaus, the moment was as surprising as it was rewarding.

“I obviously wasn’t supposed to make the team, a lot of people didn’t think I’d make the final, so being able to do that was just a special moment,” he reflected.

The pressure is now on Gout to defend his crown as the sport’s most exciting teenage runner.

All eyes will be on the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, where the Australian is expected to compete — and possibly face Shimizu and Lutkenhaus.