A 16-year-old Australian sprinter, Gout Gout, has stunned the athletics world by running the fastest 200m ever recorded by someone his age, surpassing even Usain Bolt’s record for under-18 athletes.
At the Australian All Schools Athletics Championships in Brisbane on Saturday, Gout clocked 20.04 seconds, breaking the national record of 20.06 seconds set by Peter Norman during the 1968 Olympics.
“This is Australia’s fastest-ever time in the 200m, and it feels unbelievable,” Gout said. “These are adult times, and I’m just a kid running them. It’s going to be a great future for sure.”
World Athletics confirmed that Gout’s time is the fastest by any 16-year-old and ranks as the second-fastest in history for athletes under 18. He overtook Bolt’s 20.13 seconds, a record set by the legendary Jamaican sprinter at the same age.
“I didn’t expect it to be this fast. I thought I’d break this record maybe next year or later, but here we are,” Gout said, reflecting on his achievement.
Just a day earlier, Gout ran a wind-assisted 100m in 10.04 seconds, showcasing his incredible potential.
“You know what they say,” he remarked, “Pressure makes diamonds, and I guess I’m better than a diamond right now.”
Next month, Gout will travel to the United States to train with Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles, according to ABC News.
