Australia’s teenage sensation Gout Gout has signed a multi-year contract with Adidas, which will run until the Brisbane Olympics.
The contract which is worth over $6million (Kshs 771,418,434) outbid rivals Nike and Puma to secure the Australian sprinter, whose performances rival Usain Bolt’s at the same age.
The 16 years-old, has already broken Peter Norman’s 56-year-old Australian 200m record with a time of 20.04 seconds and clocked a wind-assisted 10.04 seconds in the 100m.
These achievements make him one of the most exciting young talents in world athletics.
James Templeton, Gout’s manager, revealed that major brands had been pursuing him since 2022, when he broke the Australian under-16 200m record.
‘Adidas conveyed their desire to secure Gout early on and showed great patience,’ said Templeton.
The deal ensures Gout can stay in Australia to complete his education while receiving performance-based bonuses for world and Olympic success.
Adidas’ investment aligns with their strategy of backing young talent, as seen with Usain Bolt in his early years.
The agreement includes opportunities for Gout to train internationally, including with Olympic champion Noah Lyles in Florida and a base salary and incentives for breaking records and earning podium finishes