Eighteen-year-old Australian sprinter, Gout Gout, has delivered a remarkable performance to surpass an early career benchmark set by sprint legend Usain Bolt.
Gout clocked an impressive 19.67 seconds in the 200 metres at the Australian Athletics Championships on Sunday, April 12, securing the title and drawing global attention.
The time eclipses Bolt’s best mark of 19.93 seconds recorded before the age of 23, placing the young Australian ahead of the Jamaican icon’s early career pace.
For an athlete of just 18, the performance ranks among the fastest in the world this season and highlights his rapid progression. It also marks a significant improvement on his previous personal best of 20.02 seconds.
Although Gout had earlier run under 20 seconds, that effort was aided by a tailwind and was not officially recognised. His latest run, however, was achieved under legal conditions, making it his first valid sub-20-second performance—one that firmly establishes him as a rising force in global sprinting.
The race featured a competitive field, with Aidan Murphy finishing second in 19.88 seconds, while Calab Law placed third in 20.21 seconds. Despite the strong lineup, Gout pulled away decisively in the latter stages, maintaining control off the bend and accelerating clear of his rivals down the final stretch.