Courtney Walsh with AAP from Fox Spor
In a measure of the potential the athletics world sees in Australia’s teenage sprint sensation Gout Gout, he shared top promotional billing on Monday for a prestigious meeting in Ostrava alongside India’s superstar javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra.
Gout, who declared his preference for the 200 metres to 100 metres ahead of his first European appearance in one of the continent’s oldest and most prestigious meets, appeared at Bolt Tower alongside the Tokyo gold medallist from India.
The tower is named after the Jamaican sprint legend, who was a regular visitor to the Czech Republic city, so it is scarcely surprising the meet promoters jumped at the chance given Gout has been liked to Bolt given his deeds as a junior.
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Gout Gout.
Gout Gout. Source: Getty Images
The 17-year-old won the Australian Athletic Championships in April clocking 19.84 seconds on 200 metres, a time which eclipsed Bolt’s best at that age, and 9.99 seconds on 100 metres, though both with a tailwind above the limit.
“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 told reporters.
“Who doesn’t want to be Usain Bolt? Being compared to Usain Bolt feels great but would like to put my personality in the upcoming story.”
He is getting ready to run 200 metres at the Golden Spike meet in the eastern Czech city on Wednesday morning (AEST) in his European premiere that will feature fellow Australian stars Peter Bol and Cameron Myers, along with 16 medallists from the Paris Olympics.
“I definitely like 200 more than 100 because 100 is a bit too short for me. You get the start and then you’re already at the finish line,” Gout said.
“I really like getting out and getting to my top speed and keep holding it to the finish line. So 200 is great and I love it.”
Gout, who was born in Australia after his parents migrated from South Sudan, rose to prominence last December when he clocked the quickest 200m time ever by a 16-year-old of 20.04 sec.
The lanky Gout, who has a six word mantra on the wallpaper of his phone which reads “You’re going to be Olympic champion”, relished being likened to Bolt, whom he called “the epitome of sprinting”.
“If I could be on that level and just put my little bit of style onto it. So try to be like him but also bring my little personality with me,” he said in Europe.
“Just to know that I may be on the same trajectory and just being compared to the best sprinter of all time is … definitely something I appreciate.”
After the Australian championships, Gout focused on training in Queensland under coach Di Sheppard rather than competing.
A sponsorship from Adidas secured after he broke Peter Norman’s longstanding Australian record over last December proved game-changing as it not only enabled him to buy a car to get to training, it also gave him a chance to train alongside Noah Lyles in Florida.
“We did a lot of work… on my starts and just to get stronger overall for the Europe season,” he said.
“I’m just building up my strength and just really trying to get in the gym and get to the next level for sure. I’m excited to run again after a long time.
“I’m looking forward to going out on Tuesday and seeing how my training has been, how I have improved. I know there will be a good crowd, so hope to have some fun.”
His season-best time of 20.05 for the 200m is equal-quickest among his rivals in Ostrava alongside Eduard Kubelik and Reynier Mena. The latter has recorded the quickest time in the field over 200m of 19.63 sec.
After Ostrava, Gout will compete at the Diamond League in Monaco on July 11 with eyes on the world championships in Tokyo in September.
“Obviously the world championships is the main goal and I just want to see what I can do on the world stage against professional athletes,” Gout said.
“I just want to get out there and kind of prove myself.”
Gout Gout is scheduled to race in the 200m in Ostrava at 4.35am AEST with the event live streamed via world athletics.
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