SCMP Sport4/22/2026Sports1 min readChina

Usain Bolt advises Gout Gout to build strong support team to avoid distractions

Eight-times Olympic gold medallist urges young Australian sprinter to stay focused as comparisons grow

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Usain Bolt has advised Australian sprint prodigy Gout Gout to surround himself with a strong support team to maintain focus and avoid distractions that come with track and field success.
The 18-year-old, who has drawn comparisons to the Jamaican great, recently won the 200m title at the Australian Athletics Championships in 19.67 seconds and the under-20 100m in 10.21 seconds.
Brisbane hosts the Olympics in 2032 where Gout is being talked about as a potential gold medallist.

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Why It Matters

Gout Gout has emerged as one of Australia's most promising young sprinters, earning comparisons to Usain Bolt after a series of impressive performances at the Australian Athletics Championships.

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Usain Bolt said Australian sprint sensation Gout Gout must surround himself with a strong support team to stay focused on his career and avoid the distractions that will come with track and field success. Gout has earned comparisons with the Jamaican sprinting great and the 18-year-old is already being talked about in Australia as a potential gold medallist when Brisbane hosts the Olympics in 2032. He clocked 19.67 seconds to win the 200 metres title at the Australian Athletics Championships this month and followed it up with a victory in the under-20 100m event where he finished in 10.21 seconds. Bolt holds the world record in the 200m (19.19 seconds) and the 100m (9.58 seconds). "At that young age, because I was there, you start getting put left and right and then you forget track and field," eight-times Olympic gold medallist Bolt said. "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."