The teenage sprint sensation also recorded a world-leading time over half a lap in his heat
Gout Gout, the Australian teenager who’s already made headlines around the world, has broken yet another barrier by running a sub-20 second 200m.
The 17-year-old ran an incredible 19.98 (3.4) to win the final at the Queensland Athletics Championships (March 16) but the time was wind-assisted.
Gout however did run a wind legal 20.05 – just outside his personal best of 20.04 – in the heats, blitzing the domestic field by more than two seconds in Brisbane.
Gout Gout in action (Getty)
Not only was his 20.05 the world lead in the 200m but his 19.98 is also the quickest ever time by an Australian in all conditions.
Back in December, Gout took down Peter Norman’s senior national record of 20.06 – a mark that secured Norman the Olympic silver medal at the 1968 Mexico Olympics – with 20.04.
Gout’s run put him second on the global under-18 200m all-time list behind Erriyon Knighton, who ran 19.84 at the USATF Championships three years ago.
Di Sheppard and Gout Gout (Getty)
It meant that Gout is also faster than Usain Bolt over 200m in the under-18 age category, with the Jamaican clocking 20.13 in 2003.
The Australian also had success in the 100m at the championships and set a national under-18 record of 10.17 (0.9) in his win.
Last summer, Gout claimed a superb silver medal over half a lap at the World Under-20 Championships in Lima, placing behind South Africa’s Bayanda Walaza.
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