Track and field is turning into a teenage takeover, with young phenoms popping up left and right. First, the world was buzzing about Quincy Wilson. The 17-year-old speedster had made history as the youngest U.S. track and field Olympian ever at the 2024 Paris Games. This is despite saying he wasn’t even “100% myself.” But just when you thought he had the spotlight locked down, along comes another 16-year-old sensation: Gout Gout.
Well, this Australian sprinter is being hyped as Usain Bolt’s successor. But for good reason. He ran a blistering 10.04 seconds in the 100m at the Australian All Schools Athletics Championships in December 2024, making it the fourth-fastest time ever recorded by an under-18 sprinter. With these two rewriting the record books before they can even vote, one has to wonder—what’s Wilson thinking about Gout Gout’s rise? Is he jealous?
Quincy Wilson talks about the future of track and field
On February 20th, Quincy Wilson joined the Beyond the Record podcast with Grant Holloway and Rai Benjamin, where they got into a lively discussion about the future of track and field. When asked, “What do you think is the future for track and field?” Wilson didn’t hold back. “You see, like Letsile Tebogo, you see all these young athletes—they’re actually the future. The youth has changed.”
He further added, “But even if you go and look at the U.S. number one, these kids are moving, dog. I don’t even know—like, you go into a high school meet, run 20-point indoors, and lose. Not even get second—I’m talking about lose.” He then gave a special nod to Australian sprinting sensation Gout Gout, saying, “Gout is Gout. Gout is the truth, bro. He’s the truth for sure. Like, this is form—I look at him.”
That’s when things got even more interesting. Holloway, always one to stir the pot, threw out a hypothetical race: “We line you and Gout Gout up in an 800—let’s go.” Wilson immediately shut it down, laughing, “Why we going up? If you’re vinc to four, you taking him out of his element.” The room cracked up, but the debate wasn’t over just yet.
Well, we know Gout Gout is more of a short-distance specialist, excelling in the 100m and 200m, while Quincy Wilson dominates the 400m. But Wilson then made it clear that comparisons between him and Gout weren’t entirely fair. “You can’t compare me to him though if we really being for real, bro. He signed a pro-contract. I’m still in high school.”
Holloway, quick with the comeback, reminded him, “If it makes you feel better, he’s actually going back to high school too.” But Wilson wasn’t having it: “Age don’t matter in professional—you got to put it like that.” The exchange was full of respect, but also the kind of competitive fire that makes track and field so exciting. But are they both successful at the same level? Well yes, but for Wilson, it wasn’t easy! Remember his Olympic struggles?
100m vs. 400m—who’s the real teenage track king?
How often does a young athlete draw favorable comparisons to Usain Bolt? Not very. But for Gout Gout, those comparisons aren’t just hype—they’re backed by history-making performances. At just 16, the Australian sprinting prodigy shattered the age-group 200m world record once held by the Jamaican legend, clocking an electrifying 20.04 seconds at the 2024 Australian All Schools Championships.
That time wasn’t just faster than Bolt’s best as a 16-year-old—it also made Gout the fastest Oceanian athlete ever, breaking a record set by Peter Norman at the 1968 Olympics. Now 17, Gout is eyeing even bigger milestones in 2025, sitting second on the all-time list for under-18 200m runners and already making waves among under-20 sprinters.
On the other side of the world, Quincy Wilson reached his historic milestone as he competed in Paris 2024. At 16 years old, the U.S. phenom earned Olympic gold for the youngest track and field championship after securing the 4x400m relay triumph at Paris 2024. Wilson obtained a personal best time of 44.20 seconds in the 400m, which earned him the sixth position in the Olympic final, thus establishing himself alongside the premier athletes in track and field.
He has achieved multiple record-breaking results yet shows no signs of arrogant behavior. But in the same podcast, Wilson revealed the struggles of the Olympics. Quincy Wilson’s Olympic journey was marked by uncertainty and setbacks, particularly regarding his status on the U.S. mixed 4x400m relay team. A lack of communication from USATF left him unsure of his role, forcing last-minute adjustments.
This disruption contributed to a hamstring injury sustained during practice, just as he was preparing for the relay events. The pain was severe, nearly jeopardizing his Olympic readiness, but Wilson remained determined. Despite the injury, he pushed through, ensuring he did his part for the team while undergoing daily treatment to stay in the competition.
While Gout and Wilson compete in different events, they share one undeniable truth. That is, they are both redefining what’s possible for teenage sprinters, and the world is watching.
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