16-Year-Old Smashes Australian 200m Record
Teen sprinting sensation Gout Gout has rewritten the record books, clocking a blistering 20.04 seconds in the 200m at the Australian All Schools Championships in Brisbane on Saturday December 7th. The 16-year-old not only shattered Australia’s oldest athletics record, Peter Norman’s 20.06 from the 1968 Olympics, but also became the fastest 16-year-old ever over the distance.
“It’s pretty crazy,” said Gout. “ These are adults. And me, I'm just a kid, and I'm running them (down)...I've been chasing that record, but I didn't think it would come this year.”
The run also ranks as the second-fastest under-18 200m time ever, just behind American Erriyon Knighton’s 19.84 at age 17 in 2021.
“I’ve always done what I said I will do,” Gout remarked. “If I said something, it’s on my mind and I am pursuing it until I do it.”
Gout’s rise to the top
His progression over the last two years has been remarkable. As a 14-year-old in 2022, he ran 10.57 in the 100m, and earlier this year, he broke Bolt’s 200m record for a 15-year-old, running 20.60 in the 200m at the World Athletics U20 Championships. Just a day before his record-breaking 200m, he ran a wind-assisted 10.04 in the 100m heats and won the final in a personal best of 10.17. His success has drawn comparisons to sprinting legend Usain Bolt, thanks to his towering 6ft 2in frame and smooth running style.
Born to parents who fled war-torn South Sudan, Gout grew up in Ipswich, Queensland, and is already setting his sights on bigger goals. He plans to train with Olympic champion Noah Lyles in the United States next month. At just 16, his future looks incredibly bright, especially with the 2032 Olympics set to take place in his home city of Brisbane.
Gout’s record-breaking run marks a historic moment for Australian athletics. Peter Norman’s 200m record was not only a benchmark of excellence but also tied to the iconic 1968 Olympics Black Power protest. Norman stood in solidarity with Tommie Smith and John Carlos on the podium, a powerful reminder of the intersection of sports and social justice.
For Gout, the path ahead involves “little steps” as he aims for even bigger milestones, like breaking the elusive 20-second barrier in the 200m. “It will be great for sure but I’m not expecting too much,” he said. “Right now, I can’t really process it. I guess tonight when I go to bed and think about it, it will be pretty crazy for sure.”
