Gout Gout will take an important step on his athletics journey this week against a formidable field on his international senior debut in the Czech Republic, in race that only strengthens the parallels between him and sprint great Usain Bolt.
Returning to Ipswich Grammar after a historic Australian season, the 17-year-old has now travelled to Europe in the mid-year school break to compete in Ostrava and at the upcoming Diamond League meet in Monaco in a programme designed to prepare him for the Tokyo World Championships in September.
This week’s meet – which takes place early Wednesday morning Australian time – provides a first glimpse of the teenager at the epicentre of global athletics, and presents the challenge of competing against senior sprinters on the professional European circuit for the first time.
“The main goal of the season is obviously world championships,” Gout said in the Czech Republic. “Let’s see what I can do on the world stage against professional athletes. Hopefully I can run fast and perform well.”
After his record-breaking performances over the past 12 months, including the Australian 200m record of 20.04s and sub-20s wind-assisted 200m times, athletics observers have identified as Gout as one of the world’s brightest talents. The resemblance of his style to Bolt’s, together with the Jamaican’s acknowledgement of the similarities, has done little to temper expectations.
The links between the pair will only grow deeper with the Australian’s appearance in Ostrava. When Gout was not yet six months old, a 21-year-old Bolt underscored his potential in the same meet with a blistering 19.83s 200m, then his fastest time overseas and still a meet record. Later that year, the Jamaican would win his first Olympic gold medal at the 2008 Games in Beijing.
But even before that, Bolt ran a 20.28s at the meet as a 19-year-old. He even travelled there in 2004 as a 17-year-old – the same age Gout is now – although withdrew at the last minute due to injury.
Gout again faced questions about his similarities with Bolt this week. “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,” he said.
“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.”
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This year that narrative is focused on Gout’s performance in Tokyo, and his upcoming races in Europe are designed to hone his preparation. The 200m field this week includes two athletes who have run legal sub-20s times.
Cuban Reynier Mena, 28, has already won Diamond League meets this year in Oslo and Stockholm, where he recorded his season’s best of 20.05s. Britain’s Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake, 31, was part of the British men’s 100m relay that won bronze at last year’s Olympics.
Gout said he has been working on his strength and his starts since the Australian season ended in April. “I’m looking forward to going out on Tuesday, seeing how my training has been, how I have improved,” he said. “I know there is going to be a good crowd so I hope to have some fun.”