Gout Gout breaks 56-year record, topples Usain Bolt as fastest 16-year-old in history over 200m - ‘I’m just a kid’
Updated 07/12/2024 at 13:54 GMT
The Australian 200m record has finally been broken after 56 years, following teenage sensation Gout Gout's stunning run at the Australian schools championships in Brisbane. The 16-year-old beat Peter Norman's record by 0.02 seconds, steamrolling to victory in an official time of 20.04s. Gout has also become the fastest 16-year-old ever over 200m, and the second-fastest of those under 18.
Watch thrilling photo finish in 100m final as Lyles claims stunning gold
Video credit: TNT Sports
Australian sensation Gout Gout has set a new national 200m record, while also becoming the fastest 16-year-old in the event’s history.
Just one day after he blitzed his way to a stunning 100m victory - soaring to fifth in the all-time under-18 charts - Gout broke a national record which had stood for 56 years, during the Australian schools championships in Brisbane.
The teenage star pipped Peter Norman’s time of 20.06 seconds - ran at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City to win silver - by 0.02s, flying over the line in an official time of 20.04.
"It's pretty crazy," Gout said after the race. "Right now I can't process it, but I guess tonight when I go to bed, I'll think about it.
"These are adults. And me, I'm just a kid, and I'm running them [down].
"I've been chasing that record, but I didn't think it would come this year. I thought it would come maybe next year, the year after that."
Only Erriyon Knighton holds a faster 200m time among athletes under the age of 18 when he ran 19.84s as a 17-year-old in 2021.
Gout, who became the fourth-fastest Australian over 100m on Friday in a time of 10.04s, has been compared to legendary Jamaican star and world record holder Usain Bolt.
Bolt blew the field away at the World Athletics Championships finals in Berlin in 2009 when he stormed to victory in 9.58s, and is the all-age world record holder over 200m with a time of 19.19s, which he ran at the 2009 World Championships.
Bolt ran the 200m in 20.13s as a 16-year-old in 2003, 0.09s slower than Gout's effort on Saturday.
"My video went viral right before world juniors and that already created pressure," Gout said.
"But you know what they say, pressure makes diamonds and I guess I’m better than a diamond right now.
"We just take little steps; beat my PB by 0.01 and 0.02. Chasing that big sub-20, it will be great for sure but I’m not expecting too much."
According to Australian broadcaster ABC, the teenager is set to link up with another Olympic 100m gold medalist, Noah Lyles, for training in the United States next month.
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