By Chris Chavez
December 7, 2024
16-year-old Gout Gout broke Australia’s men’s 200m record, clocking 20.04 seconds at the Australian All Schools Athletics Championships in Brisbane.
The previous record of 20.06 stood for 56 years as it was set by Peter Norman at the 1968 Olympics, where he won silver and famously supported the podium protest by USA’s John Carlos and Tommie Smith.
"I've been chasing that record, but I didn't think it would come this year,” Gout said after the race. “I thought it would come maybe next year, the year after that."
A closer look at Gout Gout’s record
– Gout’s time makes him the fastest 16-year-old in history over 200m, surpassing Usain Bolt’s 20.13 at the same age.
– Gout, who earned a 200m silver medal at this summer’s World U20 Championships in Peru, is now No. 2 on the all-time under-18 world list, trailing only Erriyon Knighton’s 19.84 from 2022, which he ran as a 17-year-old. Usain Bolt moved down to No. 3 on the all-time list with his 20.13 from 2003, which he ran as a 16-year-old.
– He is now tied with Ramil Guiliyev for No. 6 on the all-time world U20 list. Only Knighton (19.49), Usain Bolt (19.93 at 17 years old), Blessing Akwasi Afrifah (19.96), Letsile Tebogo (19.96) and Issam Asinga (19.97) have run faster.
– Just last month, Gout notched his a personal best of 20.29, which he obliterated with his record-breaking performance on Saturday. He was No. 4 on the all-time U18 list heading into Saturday’s performance.
The internet is abuzz
– Gout also sent social media into a frenzy after he dominated his 100m heat with a wind-aided 10.04 on Friday. He ran a wind-legal 10.17 in the final for national under-18 record.
– After breaking Peter Norman's record, his daughter Sandy w, "CONGRATULATIONS Gout Gout from one of Peter Norman's daughters and the rest of our family 🙌🙌 Dad would absolutely have loved this!!!! NR & AR"
What’s Next?
– Gout reportedly has an invitation to train with Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles in Florida next month. The two sprinters share a sponsor as Gout signed a professional contract with adidas in October.
The German sportswear giant is betting big on Gout with sights set on the 2032 Olympics, where he’ll be 24 years old.
– Gout also secured the qualifying standard (20.16) for the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo. He has yet to represent Australia as a senior at a global championship.
Chris Chavez
Chris Chavez launched CITIUS MAG in 2016 as a passion project while working full-time for Sports Illustrated. He covered the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and grew his humble blog into a multi-pronged media company. He completed all six World Marathon Majors and is an aspiring sub-five-minute miler.
