Gout Gout breaks Usain Bolt’s record as world’s fastest 16-year-old over 200m

Gout Gout broke Usain Bolt’s record as the fastest 16-year-old in history over 200m, with a time of 20.04 seconds at the Australian All Schools Championships in Brisbane on Saturday.

Gout broke Usain Bolt’s record of 20.13 seconds for 16-year-olds dating back to 2003. Gout turns 17 on December 29. The only men in history to have run faster than 20.04 at age 17 are Americans Erriyon Knighton (19.84) and Bolt (19.93). ).

The drop also fell below the entry standard of 20.16 for the World Outdoor Athletics Championships next September in Tokyo.

“These are adult times and I, just a child, am leading them,” Gout said, according to the Australian Athletics Federation. “It will definitely be a great future.”

Gout also broke the Australian all-ages record of 20.06 set by Peter Norman when he won silver at the 1968 Mexico Olympics. Norman wore an Olympic Human Rights Project badge on the podium medals in support of gold and bronze medalists Tommie Smith and John Carlos.

“I didn’t expect it to be that fast, but I guess I ran Australia’s fastest ever 200m time,” Gout said. “I chased this record, but I didn’t think it would happen this year. I thought maybe next year or the year after that.

Gout was born in Brisbane two years after his parents left South Sudan for Australia. He won silver in the 200m at the U20 World Championships in August in Lima, Peru, in a then-personal best of 20.60. He turned professional in October, signing with Adidas.

“My video went viral right before the World Juniors and that already created pressure,” Gout said. “But you know what they say, pressure makes diamonds, and I guess I’m better than a diamond right now. We’re just taking baby steps; beating my PB by 0.01 and 0.02. Hunting that big sub-20 will definitely be awesome, but I’m not expecting much.

Olympic 100m gold medalist Noah Lyles posted on Gout’s Instagram on Friday after Gout ran a wind-aided 10.04 in the 100m, followed by a legal personal best of 10.17 .

“Congratulations on your many GREAT moments this year,” Lyles posted. “I also heard that you were planning to come train with the group for a few weeks.” See you soon.

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