The legend of Gout Gout has continued to grow after the 16-year-old added his name to the record books once again with a blistering run at the All Schools Queensland track and field championships.
The 16-year-old Queenslander, who drew comparisons to Usain Bolt after racing to the silver medal at the world under-20 championships in Peru in August, has again rocked the athletics world with his latest feat.
Watch selected NRL, AFL, SSN games plus every F1 qualifying session and race live in 4K on Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.
After claiming silver in Peru in a time of 20.60 seconds — a time that was 0.01 seconds faster than the legendary Jamaican at the same age — Gout, who doesn’t turn 17 until late December, turned on the afterburners in a blistering performance.
Gout, who was running for Ipswich Grammar School, lowered his PB to a remarkable 20.29 seconds in the heat of the 200m sprint.
The time was so quick, Gout Gout was the fastest in the under-18 prelims by 1.78 seconds ahead of St Laurance’s Terrell Thorne, who qualified second in 22.07.
To put the performance in perspective, Gout Gout not only smashed the Queensland Open 200m record, the Australian under-18 and under-20 records as well as the Oceania under-18 and under-20s records, but also became the fourth fastest Australian in history over 200m and registered the equal seventh fastest time.
While Gout broke his own under-18 records, he lowered Aidan Murphy’s under-20s record of 20.42 set in 2022.
For the record, Peter Norman’s 1968 run in the final of the Mexico City Olympics is the fastest ever time by an Australian at 20.06.
While Norman claimed silver and only beaten by a world record by American Tommie Smith, that race is remembered most for the silent protest by Smith and his countryman and bronze medallist John Carlos, both African-American men who raised their fists in a Black Power salute.
Norman (20.06, 20.22, 20.23 — all at the 1968 Olympics), Dean Capobianco (20.18, 20.21 and 20.29 in 1993) and John Dinan (20.19 in 1986) are the only faster times by Aussies in history.
All three men were in the 20s when they achieved their times.
It means the 16-year-old’s time is the fastest by an Australian since August 1993, which is over 31 years.
The time of 20.29 is also makes him the equal-28th fastest under-20 man in history — and fourth fastest under-18.
It’s the 12th fastest under-18 time in history — behind only the USA’s Erriyon Knighton (seven times), Bolt (three times) and Thailand’s Puripol Boonson.
While Gout couldn’t replicate it in the final, he still ran his second fastest time of 20.52, with Thorne finishing with the silver in 21.30.
Remarkably, Gout Gout also took out the 100m title, running 10.31 to finish ahead of Heath Smallacombe from St Columban’s College in 10.90.
While that wasn’t Gout Gout’s fastest 100m — he ran 10.29 in March — he remains Australia’s second fastest under-18 over 100m only behind reigning Australian 100m champion Sebastian Sultana who holds the record of 10.27.
It’s been a huge week for Gout Gout as he turned professional after he signed a deal with Adidas.
“I’m super excited to have signed with Adidas,” Gout told Citius Mag.
“I’m not stopping here. I’ll work so hard to repay the faith they have shown me. I’ll stay hungry and chase down what’s next.”
Gout Gout was born in Brisbane to South Sudanese parents.
Discussion about this post