What Gout’s coach and peers say about his progression
Gout’s prodigious sprinting ability hasn’t only captured the attention of the media, but it has also been a hot talking point among his fellow athletes.
And who better to give his opinion than the reigning Olympic 200m champion, Letsile Tebogo.
“He can be one of the best, he could be in the history books if he continues with the hunger that he has right now, he could go very far,” Tebogo said, as reported in the Guardian.
But Botswana’s first-ever Olympic gold medallist also sounded a word of caution about moving him along in his progression too quickly.
“Don’t let him stay too much on the seniors, because everybody is watching,” he said. “If he beats the seniors, what’s going to be next? So after this, back to his age [group] and slowly but surely, he will get there.”
President of World Athletics, Sebastian Coe, echoed the sentiments of Tebogo.
“We have to be realistic about this,” said Coe. “The vast majority of people who win world junior titles don’t go on to compete for their national team at senior level.
“This is a rare and precious talent that will need nurturing and protecting.”
However, even while other legends of the sport, including Michael Johnson, have urged caution, there’s no doubting the excitement surrounding Gout.
“He will be the greatest athlete we have ever produced in this country. I’m saying that hands down,” predicted former Australian 100m champion Matt Shirvington.
And how about this praise from Jamaican sprint legend Usain “Lightning” Bolt?
“He looks like young me,” he said.
While many of these commentators have watched from the outside, someone who has an intimate knowledge of his ability and personality is Gout’s coach, Di Sheppard, who cites his emotional intelligence as something that makes him stand out from the crowd.
“You know yourself how hard that is as an adult, let alone as a kid,” she said of his ability to deal with and overcome challenges. “He has a massive ability to be able to do that.”