Teen star Gout Gout smashes 'ridiculous' 56-year-old Australian record at All Schools Championship
Updated . First published at
A 56-year old record held by Peter Norman has officially been broken as Gout Gout's stardom on the track begins to catch the attention of the global stage.
At 16-years-old, Gout Gout made Australian history as he crossed the line in a time of 20.04 in the 200m final at the All Schools Championships.
The nerves of the event did not impact the Queenslander's performance, with the field ordered back to the start line following a false start.
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Starting the race again, Gout bolted out of the blocks in stronger form than his heat, gaining an early advantage on his competitors.
Gout extended his lead with ease as he pushed towards the finish line and began his wait to learn if he had become the fastest 200m sprinter in Australian history.
Gout Gout of Queensland celebrates winning the Boys' U18 200m Final. Getty
Norman's 1968 run in the final at the Mexico City Olympics was the fastest ever time ran by an Australian in the 200m event, clocking in a 20.06.
But the teenage sensation knocked the Australian star off his podium by 0.02 hundredths of a second.
"That is ridiculous. This kid is just everything," Mitch Dyer said in commentary on Athletics Australia's coverage.
"He has stolen the eyes of this world."
Pointing at his competitor badge with his name, Gout was heard screaming: "Remember it."
Gout Gout is the youngest Australian to record the time. Getty
Only one person under the age of 18 has recorded a time faster than Gout in the event, ran by Erriyon Knighton in 2021.
Usain Bolt is the only other sprinter to near Knighton's teenage record, clocking a time of 20.13.
"These are adult times and for me, just a kid, I'm running them," Gout told reporters after the race.
"I've been chasing that record, but I didn't think it would come this year. I thought I would get it next year or the year after that, so to get it now is definitely great, for sure.
"After that under steady start, I felt a bit uneasy but as soon as the gun went, I came in home.
"Right now, I can't really process it. Tonight when I go to bed, it will be pretty crazy for sure.
"I've always done what I said I would do. If it's on my mind I am going to go get it."
The record comes off the back of an impressive run in the heats on Saturday morning.
In his heat, the 16-year-old ran just 10 hundredths of a second short of his personal best time of 20.29, which he achieved in early November.
The time was the eighth fastest time run in Australian history, behind Patrick Taylor, Dean Capobianco, John Dinan and Peter Norman.
