Australian sprinting prodigy Gout Gout has once again stunned the athletics world, making history at the Queensland State Championships.
On Sunday, the 17-year-old clocked a blistering 19.98 seconds in the 200m final, becoming the first Australian to break the 20-second barrier. However, the record will not stand due to an illegal tailwind of +3.6m/s. Earlier in the heats, he ran 20.05 seconds—the fastest time in the world this year—just 0.01 seconds shy of his own Australian record.
Gout, who shattered Peter Norman’s long-standing 200m national record in December at just 16, continues to demonstrate his immense potential. On Saturday, he also recorded a wind-assisted 10.04 seconds in the 100m, making him the fourth-fastest under-18 athlete in history.
Despite the wind-aided conditions, Gout’s performances place him among an elite group of only seven under-20 sprinters to achieve a sub-20-second 200m in all conditions. Even sprinting legend Usain Bolt has acknowledged his talent, stating that Gout “looks like young me.”
Gout also dominated the under-20 100m final, winning in 10.38 seconds, nearly half a second ahead of the competition. He is now preparing for his next challenge at the Maurie Plant Meet in Melbourne on March 29.
