"Who doesn't want to be Usain Bolt?": Gout Gout beats Olympic favorite in Europe and breaks his own 200m record
"Who doesn't want to be Usain Bolt?": Gout Gout beats Olympic favorite in Europe and breaks his own 200m record (Image via Getty)
A 17-year-old sprinter from Australia is rapidly becoming one of the most exciting names in track and field. At just 17 years of age, he already runs times that many Olympic greats took years to run.
On June 18, 2025, during his first senior race outside Australia, Gout Gout made headlines across the world. What he did in the Czech Republic has fans and experts now calling him the 'next
Usain Bolt
.' But what exactly happened that day? And how far is he from making history?
Gout Gout runs 20.02 seconds in Czech Republic and beats Olympic favourite
Reynier Mena
On Tuesday, June 18, 2025, at the Golden Spike athletics meet in Ostrava, Czech Republic, Gout Gout ran the 200m in a blistering 20.02 seconds! This was Gout Gout's first senior race in Europe and not only did he win, he defeated Reynier Mena of Cuba, the man expected to win the race! This race was a part of the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold series.
Gout Gout had already broken the 200m Australian record back in December 2024 which had stood for 56 years.
He had actually gone and broken his own national record again, recording 20.02 seconds for the 200m, equaling, to the hundredth of a second, his own personal best, which he was allowed to do in this instance. This race was particularly newsworthy not just because of the time; but he ran faster than Usain Bolt's first run at the same Golden Spike meet of Ostrava (19 years earlier)!
Gout Gout says he feels no pressure and dreams of being himself, not just Usain Bolt
After the race, Gout Gout spoke confidently.
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'I feel good. I don't feel any pressure,'
he told reporters
. 'As soon as I get on the track, it's just me and running — my favourite thing.'
Gout Gout added that he's happy to be compared to Usain Bolt but wants to show his own personality.
'Who doesn't want to be Usain Bolt? But I also want to be me,'
he said.
Gout Gout's journey has caught the attention of big names, including Olympic champion Noah Lyles, who invited him to train. Even Usain Bolt noticed and posted online,
'He looks like young me.'
Gout Gout still has two months before turning 18. At 17 years and 10 months, Usain Bolt shattered the 20-second threshold. The planet is now waiting to see whether gout can do it too.
Also Read:
Why Gout Gout's Under 10 Serving 100m Run Was Deemed Illegal
Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
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