GOUT Gout is speed personified and on Saturday at the Australian All Schools Athletics Championships at QSAC he became the fastest Australian ever over 200m.
Turning 17 in just over a week, the Ipswich Grammar Year 11 student broke a record that had stood for 56 years.
“I came off the bend and I just hit the pedal,” he told media post-race.
“I didn’t expect it to be that fast, but I guess I ran the fastest ever time in the 200.
“I’ve been chasing that record, but I didn’t think it would come this year.”
In his fifth run in 24 hours, Gout ran the U18 200m Boys final stopping the clock in a time of 20.04sec.
The record broken was achieved in 1968, when Peter Norman ran 20.06sec at the Mexico City Olympic Games to snare a silver medal.
Gout entered the race the fifth-fastest Australian after his 200m performance last month when he ran 20.29sec at the All Schools Queensland titles.
The business world has taken notice of Gout, with the track star inking a sponsorship deal with adidas in October.
Earlier this year he won a 200m silver at the world Under 20 championships.
He has drawn comparisons to Usain Bolt, after breaking the age record over the 200m distance at the Under 20 world championships finishing in 20.60sec, a title previously held by the Jamaican sporting icon.
Gout first captured the world’s attention at 14, becoming the holder of the 100m and 200m records for the age group.
Ipswich Athletics president Vic Pascoe told Local Ipswich News what Gout represented for not only Ipswich but the world.
“It was absolutely fabulous to witness and video these history-breaking moments,” he said.
“I believe Gout Gout potentially could be on the podium at both the next Olympics (LA) and Brisbane.”
“As long as he is mentored carefully, he will have longevity well into the future.
“I look forward to seeing him run every time – he is unbelievable.
“The crowd at the championships at QSAC has grown over the past two days just to watch him compete.
“He is great for the sport.”
Fastest 200m times by Australians
- Gout Gout (20.04secs, 2024)
- Peter Norman (20.06secs, 1968)
- Dean Capobianco (20.18 secs, 1993)
- John Dinan (20.19 secs, 1986)
