“Whatever I’ve got to do to show Noah I am coming for that spot [I will do]!” – talking about coming for the reigning Olympic record holder might sound like a stretch for most, but certainly not for someone as fast as this 17-year-old. He runs faster than Usain Bolt did when the Jamaican legend was a teenager. For so long, Bolt’s records were almost as if they were inscribed in stone- just impossible to achieve. But now? maybe not as far-fetched anymore. Enter the Australian track and field sensation who has what it takes to dethrone the Jamaican legend. The teenager is getting better with every passing day and here’s why Noah Lyles should be watching his back.

If you haven’t already guessed, we are referring to Gout Gout– the next big thing in the track and field world. At the Joanna Stone Shield meet in Brisbane on February 15, Gout clocked 46.20 seconds in the 400m sprint- the fastest any Australian has run in 35 years in the Under 18 category! Moreover, the Queensland native was faster than Noah Lyles’ personal best of 47.04. Even the fastest man in all of history isn’t exactly untouchable when it comes to Gout Gout. In an exciting turn of events, he ran 200m in a jaw-dropping 20.04s, effectively circumventing Bolt’s 200m time of 20.13s from when he was 16. With these stats, and an open declaration to come for Noah Lyles’ spot, the Florida sprinter has a solid cause to be worried. What’s more, with the same sponsor, they might have to see each other more often than many would imagine!

So breathtaking has the 17-year-old been that Adidas signed him up in 2024. In an Adidas advertisement released on Instagram on February 27, Gout shared what it’s like trying to outdo an established superstar like Noah Lyles: “When you come out of that block, it feels like an electric bolt. Your head’s pretty much clear and all you’re thinking about is running as fast as you can.” Everything’s over in seconds. When the world records are set at 20.04 seconds, you can understand there’s not much room for Plan B or tactical changes midway. You just go.

Continuing on the point that there’s not much time for major manoeuvres, the 17-year-old said, “All the work is behind the scenes. When you get on the line, it’s just about executing.” To be the best, the work goes in when you are in the training room, in your life when you are following a strict diet. A commitment for years that realizes your 10-second dream.

Personally, for Gout, seeing others train and work in a group is more helpful: “Being part of Connected Group, it really helps you push yourself to the next level.” with all that motivation and pulsating energy around him, its a no-brainer that he will soak it all in and just use it to get even better. Training next to Noah Lyles, might just be what one needs to outrun him. But it’s more than that.

Beyond the competitive mindset, the track and field prodigy is loving the community spirit: “Everyone here has a great vibe. Everyone’s really welcoming.” His biggest competitor on track right now, Noah Lyles himself, has been a teacher, as per Gout. “Noah’s taught me a lot during this camp and I’ve definitely learned a lot,” said the current Oceanian record holder. Did you think the otherwise brash and ostentatious Lyles could have wisdom to share? Well, if you didn’t, you are in for a surprise!

It was the Olympic champion who said to Gout on the February 6 ‘Beyond The Records’ Podcast that the tools to win a race come from years of training. For the 27-year-old, it’s not a moment of magic at the track or luck: “Truthfully, everything that I’ve already prepared for is before the lane. You know, years out months out, weeks out training all that is done, by the time I’ve stepped on the line, whatever I need in my tool bad to win, I got it.” In the Adidas advertisement, Gout reiterated the same idea. Being with Lyles has been educational for the teenager, but he knows the target. His next objective is to beat Noah Lyles: “I’m taking it as a learning experience, but also trying to pretty much be on Noah and chase him down.” For the Australian prodigy, Noah Lyles had always been the one to beat, but true track and field fans might wish it were Bolt instead. Even the Jamaican legend himself took notice of what the youngster was doing on the tracks.

Usain Bolt has his say on the hype and expectations that Gout is generating

Gout dominated headlines when he broke Bolt’s age-16 time at the 2024 Australian All Schools Athletics Championship in the 200m event. However, the Australian had been on a fiery run even before that. That was not the first time the youngster had beaten Usain Bolt in time. In the 2024 U20 World Championships, Gout ran the 200m distance in 20.60 seconds, bettering Bolt by 0.01 seconds. No wonder Gout is throwing down challenges to Noah Lyles.

Then, in the 2024 GPS Track and Field Championships, Gout went all-in, showcasing his ability and potential. He competed in all of the 100m, 200m, and 400m events. And he won each of them with times of 10.36 seconds in the 100m, 20.86 seconds in the 200m, and 47.57 seconds in the 400m. By this point, the world was alerted- there’s a legend-in-the-making that all track stars need to view as a challenge. After all, the numbers do the talking. Is he the next Usain Bolt?

The whole track and field community was buzzing as the comparison with Usain Bolt started. Gout has started strong. But can he keep doing the same thing for the next 12-15 years? Does he understand what he needs to do to go from talent with huge potential to realizing that ceiling? He better listen to some very wise words that Usain had shared from his own life experience. 

Appearing on the High Performance Podcast on October 28, 2024, , the Jamaican said, “I was 15 when I won the world juniors, I was really young and I was really talented so I didn’t have to work as hard as it was just talent, as I was winning and winning.” But things changed fast as he entered the professional level: “I remember when I got to the professional level, and I felt like it was just going to be easy.” But it wasn’t. The kid Usain was getting a real-life reality check: “And I got to the stage where I would go to meets and I would lose. And I was like, ‘This is strange, this is new’. So it took me a while to understand.” Take notes, Gout.

While the transition to the professional level might be difficult, it perhaps is not as difficult as outrunning Bolt. If Gout can outrun teenage Usain Bolt, not once but twice, there’s a good chance he will be able to carry on this phenomenal form into his professional career as well.