Comparison to Olympic legend Usain Bolt is not the worst start to life as a sprinter.
Bolt is the greatest of all time. His times suggest so and his legacy remains unmatched.
But the emergence of Australian teen sensation Gout Gout has got people wondering whether Bolt’s 200m world record time of 19.19 set in 2009, is under threat from the young sprinter.
Time will certainly tell but what is already noticeable about the 17-year-old is his unique lower-limb technique and ankle mechanics.
Gout’s most recent blistering victory in the Czech Republic last Wednesday, saw him clock up 20.02 seconds in the 200m, lowering the Australian record he currently holds.
Former Australian Commonwealth Games gold medallist John Steffensen paid close attention to Gout’s mechanics during the race and believes that they are on a level with some of the sport’s greatest ever sprinters.
“I haven’t seen many people cover the ground like Gout does,” Steffensen told Australia’s Channel 9 in relation to the youngster’s ankle mechanics.
“The way his foot engages with the ground and how it recovers, it looks like he’s tip-toeing over the ground.
“The way Gout contacts the ground with his ankle stiffness, it’s almost like he’s not touching the ground when he hits the ground, and it’s just that ability to keep the ankles so stiff and be able to get the foot underneath the hip joint.
“It’s like he’s floating over the ground. That’s something you learn how to do in sprinting — how to have that ankle stiffness — and it comes with maturity and strength.
“If you’re talking basic physics, you’re not losing the power that you’re trying to create off the ground, so the power is not dispersing through the ankle joint, through the knee joint, and those joints are not collapsing, and you’re generating power for your posterior chain to go forward.
“It’s brilliant to watch.”
Gout’s style has been likened to that of Usain BoltGetty Images - Getty Gout Gout broke his own personal best time in the 200m in Ostrava last weekAFPSteffensen was left stunned by Gout’s ability to pull clear of Cuban star Reynier Mena in last week’s race.
Gout caught Mena with around 50 metres to go before racing clear over the final 30 metres to win by 0.17 of a second.
Steffensen noticed that Gout’s ankle technique became more noticeable over the closing stages of a 200m race with his ankles remaining durable at a time when his opponents began to fatigue.
“He’s got a very beautiful, mechanical running wheel, and he decelerates less than anybody else,” Steffensen said.
“As they’re decelerating he’s maintaining speed, and he does it very well.
“If you can lessen the ability for the ankle to ‘collapse’ as you’re getting tired, you should go faster.”
Gout Gout finished 0.17 seconds ahead of favourite Mena, who had won the previous two Diamond League 200m racesAFPSteffensen likened Gout’s technique and ankle mechanics to that of Olympic legends Carl Lewis, Usain Bolt, Maurice Greene and Donovan Bailey in a nod to his huge potential.
“Running with that stiffness in the ankles, it’s a skill that people practise every day to get, and it’s a skill that comes very naturally to Gout,” Steffensen added.
“I think he’s in that rarefied atmosphere of the athletes who’ve best been able to do that.
“In their prime, the best at doing that have been Carl Lewis, Usain Bolt and Maurice Greene. Donovan Bailey did it well, too, and Frankie Fredericks and Obadele Thompson.
“Gout is so young, and with that ability to do that, it’s crazy.
“As a good sprinter you naturally have that ability. I’m just saying that Gout naturally has it more than most, and I don’t know how he improves that because I think it’s already really elite.”
Last week’s win in Ostrava was his first on European soil, and his first international victory as a senior athlete.
Gout Gout is preparing to represent Australia in the World Championships in Tokyo this summerAFPHis next appearance comes in the 200m at the Monaco Diamond League on July 11 where he will be running in an Under-23 race.
Soon after, comes the World Championships in Tokyo where he will be running for Australia as a senior athlete for the first time against the world’s best 200m athletes.
“He’s got nothing to lose,” Steffensen said.
“The target’s on their back, and they will have to run their arses off to beat him, and they know that. If they are just a little bit off that day, he’s gonna beat you, so you need to come correct.”
And Steffenson signed off with a stark warning for Gout’s future opponents.
“Enjoy it while it lasts,” he laughed. “Because the only thing you’re gonna get on this kid is inexperience.
“Other than that, hey, good luck.
“Enjoy it while he’s not experienced, because the minute he gets experience on the world stage, from a world championship, and he stays healthy, you’re in a lot of trouble.”
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