Gout Gout Shocks With New National Record of 19.67s

Gout Breaks Australian Record and Outpaces Usain Bolt at 18

Gout, a teenage sprinting sensation, has made history by breaking the Australian 200m record with a blistering time of 19.67 seconds at the Australian Athletics Championship on Sunday. This achievement not only marks his first legal sub-20-second run but also places him faster than Usain Bolt at the same age. At 18, Bolt ran 19.93 seconds in 2004, which was a world record at the time.

Gout’s performance sets a new men’s 200m under-20s mark. However, it is worth noting that American sprinter Erriyon Knighton ran 19.49 seconds in 2022, but his time wasn’t ratified as a record due to anti-doping violations. Despite this, Gout’s accomplishment sends a strong message to international competitors, especially as he chooses to focus on the World Athletics U20 Championships rather than the Commonwealth Games.

A New Era for Sprinting

Gout is already looking ahead, stating that he believes he can go even faster. “I’m still only 18—just turned 18, so I definitely think I can go faster for sure,” he said after his win. His goal is to consistently achieve times under 20 seconds, which he believes is the key to success.

Bolt holds the world record in the 200m at 19.19 seconds, set when he was 22 in 2009. He won his first Olympic gold medal in the 200m at 21, with a personal best of 19.67 seconds—the same time Gout achieved on Sunday. Bolt then improved upon that with an incredible 19.30 seconds in Beijing to break the world record.

Overcoming Challenges

Sunday marked the first time Gout ran under 20 seconds legally. Previously, he had recorded a time of 19.84 seconds last year, but that was with an illegal tailwind. On Sunday, with a legal tailwind of 1.7 metres per second and on Sydney Olympic Park’s newly laid track, Gout broke his own previous record of 20.02 seconds.

Despite the cool and windy conditions, Gout felt confident. “It’s been in my mind this whole year, these past couple of months, so glad I got it for sure,” he said. He had written down 19.75 as a target and visualized achieving it, which ultimately led to his impressive 19.67 seconds.

Gout missed the chance to face rival Lachlan Kennedy, who withdrew from the 200m race after making history with two sub-10s runs in the 100m. Kennedy had beaten Gout in their most recent race at the Maurie Plant Meet. “Lachy not running, I guess I got to step up for both of us for sure, and I guess that’s why I did,” Gout said.

Surprising Competitor and Strong Finish

Instead, South Australian sprinter Aidan Murphy became Gout’s surprise competitor. Murphy, a 22-year-old, ran a personal best of 19.88 seconds. Although Murphy led Gout at the 100m mark, the 18-year-old surged ahead in the final 100 meters.

“I definitely felt like I had a lot more in the tank, for sure,” Gout said. “I just kept pushing it and the time shows.” He credits his increased strength from training in the gym, which has significantly improved his first 100 meters of the race.

A Legacy of Excellence

Before Gout’s breakthrough in 2024, Peter Norman’s time of 20.06 seconds, set at the 1968 Olympics, stood as Australia’s longest-standing national record. Gout and Murphy both surpassed the fastest 200m time in Australia, which was 19.92 seconds, set by Frankie Fredericks in 1999.

The atmosphere at Sydney Olympic Park was tense during Gout’s race, contrasting with the earlier excitement when Jess Hull won the women’s 5000m final. Hull had faced a difficult weekend, including a fall in the women’s 1500m. She later withdrew from the women’s 800m due to injury but emphasized her mental resilience.

Hull denied reports of a rift with Athletics Australia, calling them unfounded. “I have no idea where that’s come from,” she said. “I am so supported by our high-performance unit.”

A Day to Remember

Gout’s victory capped off a remarkable day in Sydney, which also saw Peter Bol win the men’s 800m and Nicola Olyslagers claim the women’s high jump. With the national championships concluded, Commonwealth Games Australia announced its first athletes for Glasgow 2026.