Compared with Usain Bolt, 16-year-old Track sensation Gout Gout makes major career move after signing a deal with Adidas

Australian sprinter Gout Gout has made a major career move after his impressive performance at the World Under 20 Athletics Championships, which earned him a silver medal. The 16-year-old sprinter, who is being compared to Jamaican sprinting legend Usain Bolt for his record-breaking spree, has decided to turn professional by signing a lucrative deal with the sporting brand Adidas.

Gout has broken several under-18 records, including a personal best of 20.6 seconds at the World U20 Championships, which is slightly better than Bolt's personal best at the same age. He also has a personal best of 10.29 seconds in the men's 100m, which he recorded in early 2024.

Gout is extremely excited after signing the deal with Adidas. In his conversation with Citius Mag, the Australian sprinter said,

"I’m super excited to have signed with Adidas.I’m not stopping here. I’ll work so hard to repay the faith they have shown me."

"I’ll stay hungry and chase down what’s next," added Gout.

Gout has been compared with the sprinting legend from Jamaica, Usain Bolt, for his speed and his knack for breaking records. When Bolt was as old as Gout, he had clocked the timing of 20.61 seconds at the 200m event in the Junior World Championships held in Kingston in 2002.

When asked about the comparison with Bolt, Gout replied in an interview to Fox Sports,

"It’s pretty cool because Usain Bolt is arguably the greatest athlete of all time and just being compared to him is a great feeling. Obviously, I’m Gout Gout so I’m trying to make a name for myself. If I can get to the level he was, that would be a great achievement.”

Gout Gout's personal best is 20.6 seconds, which he recorded at the World U20 Athletics Championships held in Lima this year, which is also the new under-18 record for Australia.

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Gout Gout's rise to prominence

Gout Gout at the World U20 Athletics Championships [Image Source : Athletics Australia and Gout Gout's Instagram]

Born to parents of South Sudanese origin in 2007, Gout Gout has been breaking records since he was 14 years old. He clocked 10.57 seconds in the 100m at an athletic meet held in Brisbane in 2022.

Gout rose to prominence with his performance at the Australian Under 18 Championships held in Brisbane in 2023. He clocked 20.87 seconds to win the 200m event at the age of 15 years.

However, it was in 2024 that Gout finally made his mark. At the U18 segment of the Queensland Athletics Championships, the Australian sprinter ran the 100m in 10.29 seconds.

Gout went on to lower his 200m record to 20.6 seconds at the World U20 Athletics Championships held in Lima, Peru, where he won the silver medal. The gold medal was won by Bayanda Walaza of South Africa, who clocked 20.52 seconds, while Jake Odey-Jordan of Great Britain won the bronze medal with a timing of 20.81 seconds.