The story of the race for star teenage sprinters signature [Video]

“Nike turned down [Usain] Bolt for less money in 2002. But they would have paid $10 million for him by 2012 … the chance [was that] he [Bolt was] going to be nothing.

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“For four years they thought they were right, [and] eventually he turned into Usain Bolt.”

Puma famously took a punt on Bolt at the same age Gout is now.

At one stage they considered moving on from the Jamaican, but the all-time great renewed his contract in 2010 and again in 2013, when he had golds at two Olympics in his back pocket and the Rio de Janeiro Games coming up. The new deal was in the range of $US10 million per year.

Only time will tell if the teen sprint star from regional Queensland can replicate Bolt’s remarkable achievements or elevate himself onto the list of Australia’s greatest earners in sport.

Golfer Cameron Smith ($48 million …