Gout Gout, Jan Železný and Neeraj Chopra
Gout Gout, Jan Železný and Neeraj Chopra|Photo: Pavel Lebeda, ČTK
17-year-old Australian sprinter Gout Gout has chosen Czechia for his first senior athletics meeting abroad. In December last year he bettered Usain Bolt’s 2003 record to become the fastest 16-year-old ever on the 200m distance – the same discipline he will take on in Ostrava.
With a time of 20.04 seconds, Gout also snatched the all-time Australian and continental Oceanian records, untouched for 56 years. Earlier this year, he set new fastest times on both the 100m and 200m, but due to wind-assistance both were ineligible for official records.
Gout Gout and Neeraj Chopra | Photo: Libor Kukal, Radio Prague International
Gout Gout and Neeraj Chopra|Photo: Libor Kukal, Radio Prague International
Gout, whose parents fled to Australia from South Sudan, has drawn comparisons with Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt since his early days in athletics. When asked about the “new Bolt” label at Sunday’s press conference, the talented sprinter told reporters:
“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.”
It definitely feels great, I’ve heard that a lot of sprinters like to run here. I know Usain Bolt ran here nine times, so the event clearly has a great tradition,” he continued, talking about the upcoming Golden Spike.
The only times Gout competed away from home soil was at last year’s U18 Oceania Championship in Fiji, and the World Junior Championship in Peru. This is his first ever meeting in Europe, and first senior meeting outside Australia. At the Australian National Athletics Championships in April, Gout took gold on the 200m.
Gout Gout|Photo: Libor Kukal, Radio Prague International
“After Nationals I worked on my strength and started to prepare for my European season. I’m looking forward to go out on Tuesday, see how my training has been, how I have improved. I know there is going to be a good crowd so I hope to have some fun,” he said.
Gout Gout will line up at 7.35pm for the main-event 200m sprint, which he affirms is his preferred distance:
“I definitely like 200m more than 100m. 100m is a bit too short, you start and you’re already at the finish line. 200m is my specialty, I like to work up to my top speed.”
In Ostrava, Gout Gout will line up alongside some of athletics’ biggest stars, including world-record holders, pole vaulter Armand Duplantis and short-track runner Femke Bol, or javelin world champion Neeraj Chopra.
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