Usain Bolt reacts to Australian teenager Gout Gout breaking his U20 world record

Australian sprint legend in the making Gout Gout continues to turn heads after the 18-year-old bettered legendary Usain Bolt's time in the 200 meters. Gout clocked a sensational 19.67 seconds to win the 200m title at the Australian Athletics Championships earlier this month, producing the second fastest legal time ever by an under-20 athlete and going quicker than Bolt’s best pre-23 mark of 19.93 seconds.

This prompted the Jamaican great to offer words of advice for the teenager’s future. Speaking to CNN, Bolt said that it was important for the teenager to surround himself with good people who will keep his focus on the sport.

The teenager, already being tipped as a potential gold medal contender for the Brisbane 2032 Olympics, followed that performance with victory in the under-20 100m event, where he finished in 10.21 seconds.

With comparisons to Bolt growing louder, the eight-time Olympic gold medallist said the biggest challenge for a young athlete often comes away from the track.

“At that young age, because I was there, you start getting pulled left and right, and then you forget track and field,” Bolt told CNN.

“Hopefully he has the right set of people to guide him and keep him focused on track and field, because the rest of the stuff will always be there.

“But if you mess up on track and field, then it all goes away.”

Bolt, who still holds the world records in both the 100m (9.58 seconds) and 200m (19.19 seconds), said managing distractions would be key if Gout is to fulfil his enormous potential.

The Australian teenager, the son of South Sudanese immigrants, has rapidly emerged as one of the brightest sprint prospects in world athletics. His run of 19.67 not only marked his first legal sub-20-second performance but also placed him among the quickest men in the world this season.

Gout had previously dipped below 20 seconds, but that effort came with the assistance of an illegal tailwind and was not recognised as an official mark. His championship-winning run, however, confirmed his rise as one of the sport’s most exciting young names.

The final also saw Aidan Murphy finish second in 19.88 and Calab Law take third in 20.21, but Gout dominated the closing stages after powering through the bend.

Next up for the teenager is his Diamond League debut in Oslo on June 10, where he is set to compete in the 200m against a strong field led by reigning Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo.

For now, though, one of the biggest endorsements has already arrived, from Bolt himself.