Australian sprinting prodigy Gout overclocked the fastest 200m by a 16-year-old, smashing the national 200m record on Saturday and doing something even Usain Bolt never achieved: 20.04 seconds at the Australian All Schools Athletics Championships at his home track in Brisbane, breaking Alex Norman’s national record of 20.06 from the 1988 Olympics.
Gout has been compared in local media to Bolt and called the fastest-ever by an athlete under 17, and also the second fastest by an athlete under 18 behind America’s Erriyon Knighton’s 19.84s at 17 in 2021.
Gout, whose parents immigrated from South Sudan to Australia, said, “It’s incredible. I’m just a kid running against adult times. It’s going to be a great future for sure.”
He plans to travel to the US next month to train with Olympic champions Noah Lyles and Erriyon Knighton.
Here’s a clear breakdown of the fastest men in the 100m and 200m categories across different age groups.
Fastest Man Overall
100m: Usain Bolt (Jamaica) holds the world record with 9.58 seconds, set in Berlin in 2009.
200m: Usain Bolt also holds the record with 19.19 seconds, set in Berlin in 2009.
Fastest Under-18
100m: Bouwahjgie Nkrumie (Jamaica) clocked 10.02 seconds in 2022, setting the fastest time for an under-18 athlete.
200m: Erriyon Knighton (USA) holds the under-18 and under-20 world record with 19.84 seconds, achieved at the age of 17 in 2021.
Fastest Under-17
100m: While no official under-17 record stands out, but Bouwahjgie Nkrumie’s performances as a junior standout.
200m: Recently, Australian sprinter Gout smashed records with a 20.04-second sprint at 16, surpassing even Usain Bolt’s time of 20.13 seconds at the same age.
Gout’s Achievement
- The fastest-ever under-17 sprinter in the 200m.
- The second fastest under-18 athlete, following Knighton.
Gout’s record places him in an elite league, showcasing how young athletes are pushing the boundaries of sprinting .
Discover more empowering stories and insightful content like this on YOUxTalks, your go-to destination for inspiration and knowledge.
Follow YOUxTalks on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/youxtalks
