Eighteen year old Australian sprint star Gout Gout has delivered a remarkable performance, clocking a blistering 19.67 seconds to win the national 200m title in Sydney and surpass a mark once held by sprint legend Usain Bolt.
The time not only secured victory but also set a new world under 20 record, making it the fastest 200m recorded globally this year. It marked the first time Gout has officially broken the 20 second barrier under legal wind conditions, improving on his previous wind assisted 19.84 run.
Gout’s performance eclipses Bolt’s 19.93 seconds recorded in 2004 when the Jamaican icon was still a teenager. Although Bolt went on to dominate global sprinting and set multiple world records, he never bettered that time during his youth career.
The young Australian has been on a rapid rise. In 2024, he posted a time of 20.06, the fastest ever by a 16 year old, signaling his emergence as a serious contender on the world stage.
American sprinter Erriyon Knighton had previously held the recognised under 20 record of 19.69 seconds, which stood until Gout’s breakthrough. Knighton’s faster 19.49 performance in 2022 was not officially ratified, leaving Gout’s new mark as a historic milestone.
The race also saw fellow Australian Aidan Murphy finish second in 19.88 seconds, making it a rare occasion where two Australians ran under 20 seconds in the same event.
Speaking after the race, Gout expressed relief and excitement, noting that achieving a legal sub 20 second time lifted a significant weight off his shoulders. He credited the competitive environment in Australia for pushing athletes to their limits.
Despite his growing global profile, Gout has chosen to skip the upcoming Commonwealth Games to focus on the World Under 20 Championships in Oregon this August, where he is expected to be a top contender.
Leave a comment