Australian teenage sprint sensation Gout Gout delivered a standout performance to win the national 200m title, recording a time that surpasses the mark set by Usain Bolt during his teenage years.
Racing in Sydney, the 18-year-old clocked an impressive 19.67 seconds, setting a new world under-20 record and posting the fastest 200m time in the world so far this year. The run also marked his first legal sub-20-second finish, improving on his previous wind-assisted 19.84.
Gout’s time eclipses Bolt’s 19.93 recorded in 2004 when the Jamaican legend, then 17, set the world junior record. Bolt did not improve on that time before transitioning into senior dominance, where he went on to achieve historic success.
The young Australian had earlier announced himself on the global stage with a 20.06 run in 2024, the fastest time ever recorded by a 16-year-old.
Before Gout’s breakthrough, American sprinter Erriyon Knighton held the official under-20 world record at 19.69 seconds, set in 2022. Knighton also ran a faster 19.49 that year, although it was not officially recognised.
In the same race, fellow Australian Aidan Murphy impressed with a 19.88 finish, making it a rare feat as two Australians broke the 20-second barrier in a single event.
Speaking after the race, Gout expressed relief and excitement at achieving a legal sub-20 time, noting that strong domestic competition continues to push him forward.
Despite his rapid rise, he has opted to skip the upcoming Commonwealth Games in July, choosing instead to focus on the World Under-20 Championships in Oregon in August.
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