Australia has a new sprint sensation on its hands. Gout Gout, a 16-year-old phenom from Queensland, broke the Australian men’s record in the 200m dash with an impressive run of 20.04 seconds. The teenager’s stock was already rising rapidly after his exploits as a teenage athletic talent, but this latest achievement has catapulted him to superstar status.
Gout’s incredible performance came at the 2024 Australian All Schools Athletics Championships in Queensland, where he dominated the boys’ 100m heats with a wind-assisted time of 10.04 seconds. Although that initial effort was ineligible for the record books due to wind assistance, his final run of 10.17 seconds was legitimate and saw him finish sixth on the all-time list.
The Australian 100m record holder Patrick Johnson’s mark of 9.93 seconds is likely to be under threat soon, with Gout already closing in on it. However, it was his 200m performance that truly stole the show, as he took down Peter Norman’s 56-year-old record of 20.07 seconds.
Gout’s impressive form has been consistent throughout his career. As a 14-year-old, he was already topping the times of leading Australian athletes two years his senior, while at 15, he claimed the 200m U18 record. He secured a silver medal at the World U20 Championships and recently signed with Adidas.
Gout’s idol is Usain Bolt, but he insists on forging his own reputation. “I run like him, sometimes look like him, but I’m making a name for myself,” he said. With coach Lance Brauman joining him, Gout aims to qualify for the Tokyo World Championships and potentially contend at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The 2032 Olympics in Brisbane are also a major target for Gout, who will be 25 years old at that event. While it’s early to predict his future success, Gout appears to be on the right track to become Australia’s next Cathy Freeman-esque athletics star.
Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/gout-gout-australia-sprinter-200m-record-b2660466.html