SYDNEY, Australia: 18-year-old Australian sprinter Gout Gout delivered an astonishing performance on Sunday, securing the national 200-meter title in Sydney, Australia, with a record-breaking time. The teenager finished the race in 19.67 seconds, establishing a new world under-20 record and recording the fastest time globally for the current year. This marks the first occasion that Gout has officially broken the 20-second barrier under legal wind conditions, having previously recorded a wind-assisted time of 19.84 seconds last season.
His remarkable achievement outpaces the 19.93 seconds recorded by Jamaican athletic legend Usain Bolt in 2004, when Bolt was 17 years old. While Bolt went on to set numerous senior world records, his teenage milestone has now been significantly surpassed. Gout had already signaled his immense potential on the global stage when he ran the 200-meter distance in 20.06 seconds in 2024 at the age of 16.
Okay News reports that the previous officially recognized under-20 world record was 19.69 seconds, established by American sprinter Erriyon Knighton in June 2022. While Knighton completed a faster race of 19.49 seconds earlier in 2022, that time was never formally ratified by international athletic governing bodies as an official record.
The national event in Sydney also showcased other exceptional local talents. Fellow Australian sprinter Aidan Murphy claimed second place with a time of 19.88 seconds. This result meant two Australian athletes completed the race in under 20 seconds, thrilling the local crowd.
“This is what I’ve been waiting for,” Gout said after the race. “We have such incredible athletes in Australia and me being able to race these athletes, we push each other to the limits. Two Australians sub-20. I mean, this is amazing.”
He further emphasized his relief at achieving the time under legal conditions without wind assistance. “There’s a big weight off my shoulders knowing I ran it legally, and I have the speed and my body to run times like that. So, it definitely feels great, and ready for more.”
Looking ahead, the rising athletic star has confirmed his upcoming schedule. He will not participate in the Commonwealth Games, a major international multi-sport event scheduled to begin on July 23. Instead, Gout is directing his focus entirely toward the World Under-20 Championships, which will take place in the state of Oregon in the United States of America during early August.
