NEW DELHI: In a remarkable display at the Australian All Schools Athletics Championships in Brisbane on Saturday, young sprinting sensation Gout achieved an extraordinary feat by recording the fastest 200m time ever by a 16-year-old, surpassing even Usain Bolt‘s youth achievements.
The Brisbane-born athlete completed the distance in 20.04 seconds, breaking Peter Norman‘s long-standing national record of 20.06 set at the 1968 Olympics.
According to World Athletics, Gout’s performance stands as the quickest ever by a 16-year-old in the 200m event. His time also places him second in the all-time rankings for under-18 athletes, ahead of Bolt’s 20.13.
“These are adult times and me, just a kid, I’m running them. It’s going to be a great future for sure,” said Gout, whose parents relocated to Australia from South Sudan.
“I didn’t expect it to be that fast but I guess I ran Australia’s fastest-ever time in the 200. I have been chasing that record but I didn’t think it would come this year. I thought maybe next year or the year after that.”
His achievement follows an impressive 10.04-second wind-assisted 100m performance the previous day.
“You know what they say,” he said on Saturday. “Pressure makes diamonds, and I guess I’m better than a diamond right now.”
ABC reports that Gout will soon travel to the United States to train alongside Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles.
The talented athlete, who is one of seven siblings, is set to celebrate his 17th birthday at the end of this month.
