There was never going to be another Michael Jordan, then LeBron James came along. We’d never see anyone like Tom Brady, until Patrick Mahomes arrived. Now we can add Usain Bolt to the list of legends whose legacy is coming under threat thanks to 17-year-old sprinting phenom Gout Gout.
Gout Gout is really going to be the next Usain Bolt
Back-to-back 9.99s capped off an extraordinary day for the sprinter.
James Dator has been covering a wide range of sports for SB Nation for over a decade, with a special focus on the NFL.
Gout set the track and field world on fire this week by running two (wind-assisted) 9.99s in the 100m. While he officially didn’t get under the 10 second mark due to the wind, if you also watch how Gout ran it’s clear that he let up and strolled for the final 30 meters of each race after absolutely obliterating his competition.
This was the equivalent of jogging, and still breaking 10 seconds. Keep in mind that Bolt wasn’t running sub-10s until he was 22-years-old, and Gout is still without elite, top-level training which can improve his starts. Like Bolt, Gout’s ludicrous leg length mean he’s slow out of the blocks. That’s where Bolt was able to improve his times the most, and it feels like that is possible with the young Australian as well.
Gout is expected to compete at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, peaking in 2032 when the games are heading to Brisbane, Australia — just a few hours from where he was born in Ipswich, Queensland. Excitement is going to be at a fever pitch, but as it stands we’re already witnessing one of the greatest sprinters of all time — and he’s still in high school.
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