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American sprint legend Justin Gatlin has tipped Australian teenager Lachlan Kennedy for a breakout 2025 season, snubbing Gout Gout after Kennedy’s impressive Diamond League debut.
American sprint legend Justin Gatlin has heaped praise on rising Australian sprinter Lachlan Kennedy, tipping him for a breakout campaign in 2025 while notably leaving out fellow Aussie sensation Gout Gout.
Kennedy has rapidly risen through the sprinting ranks, catching global attention after a bold performance at the Xiamen Diamond League.
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Kennedy vs Akani Simbine And Co.
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Despite finishing just outside the podium in fifth place with a time of 10.18 seconds, it was Kennedy’s composure and competitive edge against world-class opposition that drew Gatlin’s admiration.
South Africa’s Akani Simbine won the race with a blistering 9.99 seconds, followed closely by Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala (10.13) and Great Britain’s Jeremiah Azu (10.17).
Notably, Kennedy finished just one-hundredth of a second behind former world champion Christian Coleman, underscoring his growing presence among elite sprinters.
Gatlin, a former Olympic and world champion himself, believes Kennedy’s performance in Xiamen was a defining moment.
Gatlin's Remarks on Kennedy
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"I am proud of Kennedy Lachley because we were always questioning, first of all, his arrival,” Gatlin said on a recent episode of the Ready Set Go on YouTube.
“When he came in, we were like, ‘Come on man, you run this in the 60.’ He backed it up. He showed us what he can do. He stepped outdoors, he ran 10.03, he backed it up, and he went head-to-head with Gout Gout, won, got a victory there."
Gatlin's comments come amid growing anticipation around Kennedy’s rivalry with Gout Gout, another teen prodigy who has been hailed as the next great Australian sprinter.
However, Gatlin appears to believe Kennedy has already separated himself.
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“He’s mounting himself up to prove that he is an elite sprinter for his country and in the world—that’s what he's doing right now. He stepped into a whole country, and I don't think he's ever been to China before. He’s never been on a professional circuit like this before. So for him to go out there and drop a 10.1 in his Diamond League debut—I am happy for him, man. Because now that's confidence.”
Gatlin emphasized that Kennedy is no longer just a prospect, but a serious contender.
“He's in the pack, he's right there. He was tied with fourth place. He was only 0.01 seconds off from getting third. So he knows he's right there—he can get it. I want to see more of what Kennedy can do and bring to the table and just keep that hunger going forward," he noted.
With the track season heating up and eyes on both Kennedy and Gout Gout, Australia’s next sprint star is already making a statement.
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