Usain Bolt advises rising sprinter Gout Gout on handling pressure and transitioning to senior competition

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 04:07:00 +0200

Usain Bolt has offered guidance to rising Australian sprint star Gout Gout as the teenager prepares for a major step up into senior international competition. Gout, just 18, recently drew global attention after breaking his own national 200-meter record with an impressive time of 19.67 seconds at the Australian athletics championships. That performance places him among the fastest young sprinters in history, although still behind Bolt’s long-standing world record of 19.19 set in 2009.

Speaking to CNN Sport, Bolt emphasized the importance of maintaining focus and surrounding oneself with the right support system, particularly at a young age when distractions can easily derail progress. Drawing from his own early career experiences, Bolt warned that external pressures and opportunities can pull athletes away from their primary goal if they are not carefully managed. He stressed that success in track and field must remain the priority, as other opportunities depend on consistent performa