Usain Bolt comment speaks volumes as Gout Gout, 17, shows his true colours
Rising sprinting star Gout Gout has set his sights on emulating the legendary Usain Bolt by dominating the track, as he continues to impress at a tender age. The 17-year-old prodigy, who clinched silver in the 200m at last year's World Championships in Lima, boasts an impressive eight victories at the Australian Athletics Championships.
His prowess was further highlighted when he shattered a national record in Brisbane last December, clocking an astonishing 20.04s in the 200m. With the athletics world buzzing about his potential, Gout Gout has openly expressed his ambition to reign supreme in the sport, much like Bolt once did.
Speaking to FOX Sports Australia, he said: "The limit is just obviously winning Olympics and winning World Championships, and honestly dominating like Bolt did.
"I think that's a limit that's reachable for me," reports the Mirror US. The statement affirms Gout Gout's self-belief and his sense of destiny within the realm of athletics.
Following his explosive emergence, many Olympic enthusiasts are already predicting that Gout Gout will don his country's colours at the Brisbane Summer Games in 2032. Yet, the young sprinter has his eyes set on achieving greatness even sooner, at the LA Games slated for three years from now.
He added: "The times I've run so far could potentially make it into finals, make the top four, top five, top six. Just getting better and aiming for LA obviously would be a great achievement and trying to be on that podium running against [Letsile] Tebogo, Noah [Lyles], [Lachlan] Kennedy, all them athletes.
"That's definitely a goal in mind and keep aiming for the top." With a haul of eight Olympic golds, Bolt is immortalised as an athletics legend, and with world records of 9.58s and 19.19s in the 100m and 200m since 2009, he's set a high bar that fans reckon is insurmountable.
Gout Gout's rise has drawn eager comparisons to Bolt, though the Aussie sensation confesses the constant parallels wear him out. He said: "It definitely gets tiring. I'm trying to make a name for myself."
Yet, it was a special moment when Bolt acknowledged Gout Gout online, a nod he appreciated. He added: "I think he said, 'He looks like young me' so that was pretty cool."
It's been a breakout year for Gout Gout, finishing second in the Maurie Plant Meet's 200m to Kennedy in March, followed by taking gold at the Australian Athletics Championships last month.
Only time will reveal the heights this young sensation can reach, and we may even see him representing his country on the global stage, potentially challenging Bolt's records and glory, in the years to come.
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