Gout Gout: Sprint sensation earns Forbes honour that eluded Usain Bolt and Noah Lyles as teenagers

Australian teen sensation Gout Gout has achieved a milestone that eluded even Usain Bolt and Noah Lyles at his age: a place on the prestigious Forbes 30 Under 30 list.

This milestone ranks underscores his remarkable early impact both on and off the track, as Bolt was 26 when he made the list in 2012, and Lyles was 25 when he received the honor in 2023.

Gout captured the world's attention when at just 16, he delivered a stunning 20.04s run to win the 200m event at the Australian All Schools Championships, thus shattering the national record that had stood for 56 years.

Now 17, the young Australian's on-track potential has risen to greater heights as he made the 200m semifinal at this years World Senior Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

With his talent, he has drawn praise from the very stars he is being measured against.

"He’s more talented at 17 than I was," Lyles, the reigning Olympic 100m champion admitted, noting his own times of 10.14s in the 100m and 20.18s in the 200m at the same age. "Gout’s an amazing kid. He’s got a great head on him, a great team around him."

Bolt, who himself was a world youth champion at 17, echoed the sentiment, calling Gout a highly talented prospect but cautioning about the difficult transition from junior to senior competition.

"It’s always easier when you’re younger... but the transition to senior from junior is always tougher," Bolt explained. "It’s all about if you get the right coach, the right people around you, if you’re focused enough. There will be a lot of factors to determine if he’s going to be great."

Gout recently concluded his junior career in style at the GPS Track and Field Championships in Brisbane, clocking a personal best of 46.14 in the 400m. "This is the place where I found my speed," he reflected. "It definitely feels sad, but I’m definitely grateful."

Hailed as the next track superstar, Gout is having an indelible mark on Australian athletics. Hopefully, with the right guidance and direction, the teenage prodigy can surpass the achievements of the legends he is already being compared to.