Australian teenage sprinter Gout Gout has shattered the world Under-20 record in the 200 metres, clocking a time of 19.67 seconds to win the race at the Australian Athletics Championships. This achievement made him the first Australian to break the 20-second barrier, showcasing a remarkable performance in Sydney.
Gout's record-breaking run surpassed the time of Jamaican great Usain Bolt at the same age. Fellow Australian Aidan Murphy also cracked the 20-second mark, finishing second with 19.88 seconds – both times were achieved with a legal tailwind and rank as the fastest of the year. Gout defended his 200m title and eclipsed the previous world Under-20 mark set by Erriyon Knighton, while improving on his own national record of 20.02 seconds from last year.
After the race, Gout expressed his excitement: "This is what I’ve been waiting for. We have such incredible athletes in Australia, and we push each other to the limits. Two Australians sub-20 – this is amazing." He highlighted the significance of running legally under wind-legal conditions, noting, "There’s a big weight off my shoulders knowing I ran it legally, and I have the speed to run times like that. I’m ready for more."
The 18-year-old burst onto the scene in 2024 with a time of 20.04 seconds, breaking Peter Norman's national record from the 1968 Olympics. As the son of South Sudanese immigrants, Gout's rapid rise and running style have drawn comparisons to Bolt, positioning him as one of the most exciting young talents in global sprinting. His record run came on the final day of competition, after his main rival, Lachlan Kennedy, withdrew from the 200m race to manage his workload early in the season.
Despite Kennedy's absence, he underlined his form by winning the 100 metres in 9.96 seconds on Saturday, becoming the first Australian to break 10 seconds on home soil. Gout's achievement sends a strong warning to his rivals and sets the stage for future competitions, as he aims to build on this momentum in the coming season.
Source: www.aljazeera.com