Tokyo, Japan : Gout Gout delivered a sensational performance to win the 200m title at the Australian Athletics Championships in Sydney, clocking a stunning 19.67 seconds.
The 18-year-old became the first Australian to break the 20-second barrier in the event under legal conditions, smashing his own national record of 20.02 set last year. His run, aided by a legal +1.7 m/s tailwind, also eclipsed the previous world Under-20 mark held by Erriyon Knighton.
Aidan Murphy also dipped under 20 seconds, finishing second in 19.88, while Calab Law took third in 20.21.
The race was missing one of Gout’s key rivals, Lachlan Kennedy, who withdrew from the 200m to manage his workload after winning the 100m in 9.96 seconds — becoming the first Australian to break 10 seconds on home soil.
Gout, who has drawn comparisons with sprint legend Usain Bolt, said the achievement was a long-awaited milestone after previously running sub-20 times with illegal wind assistance.
With his rapid rise, the teenage sensation is now targeting further success at the upcoming World Under-20 Championships in Eugene, while continuing to establish himself as one of sprinting’s most exciting young talents.
