You've grown': Gout Gout reaches new heights in his bid to emulate Bolt

"Sprint sensation Gout Gout is already the fastest Australian to have run the 200m, and Usain Bolt has described the 17-year-old's appearance like young me. While he's beginning to catch up with Bolt's times, the teenager is also catching up to the towering Jamaican in height. Gout's running style has an uncanny resemblance to Bolt's, with long strides and an upright stance supporting his ability to reach a high top speed, even if he continues to work on his starts."

"There has always been a large difference between the pair's heights, however. Bolt is 1.95m or 6ft 5in and had reached that mark by the age of 15. Gout has been slower to grow, but could still add more height to his gangly frame. The year 12 Ipswich Grammar student was measured at 180.3cm at the end of last year, but as he prepares to race at the World Championships in Tokyo, he is now close to 183cm."

"When we got out of the car and were walking in the airport, I turned around and I felt like I had to look up more. I looked at him and went, you've grown'. He looked at me like, yeah, right', the long-time junior athletics coach said. I've never been wrong yet, even when mothers tell me they haven't, I tell them to go home and measure their kid."

"And if you look at Gout, when he puts his arms out, his arm span is just way too big for the rest of him. Sheppard has been cautious not to overload Gout's growing body with too much strength work too soon, even if stronger legs will eventually mean faster starts. We'll move into that when we can add that with some power, so it's not about really trying to force it, because, I mean, he's 17, and he's still growing,"

Gout is already the fastest Australian over 200m and is closing the gap with Usain Bolt in performance and height, sharing a similar long-stride, upright running style despite work needed on starts. Bolt reached 1.95m by age 15; Gout measured 180.3cm at the end of last year and is now close to 183cm. Di Sheppard noticed the growth earlier this year. Gout experienced later maturation, beginning around age 15, and displays an unusually long arm span relative to his frame. His father Bona remains taller. Training has avoided heavy strength work to protect his still-growing body, with plans to add power-focused work later to improve starts.

Read at www.theguardian.com