Gout Breaks National 200m Record with Impressive Run
Gout has made history by breaking his own national 200m record with a remarkable time of 19.67 seconds at the national athletics championships held at Sydney Olympic Park on Sunday. This achievement not only marks the first time an Australian has legally run under 20 seconds in the 200m but also surpasses Usain Bolt’s previous under-20 world record of 19.93 set in 2004.
The 18-year-old from Queensland has now become a standout name in the world of sprinting. His performance was so impressive that it would have easily outpaced Bolt at the same age. However, it is worth noting that American sprinter Erriyon Knighton holds the fastest time at the same age with 19.49 seconds from 2022, although this time was not ratified due to anti-doping testing issues.
Gout’s new record is a significant milestone for him, as he previously held the national record of 20.02 seconds, which he improved upon during his title defense. His performance was so strong that even the runner-up, Aidan Murphy, managed to clock 19.88 seconds. This event was just another chapter in Gout’s growing legacy, following his previous record-breaking run of 20.04 seconds in 2024, which surpassed Peter Norman’s 56-year-old Australian 200m mark.
Gout’s journey to this moment has been driven by his determination and focus. He mentioned that since achieving an illegal sub-20 time of 19.84 seconds in Perth last year, he has been working hard to achieve a legal time. “I’ve been chasing it ever since I got that illegal sub-20,” Gout said. “It’s been on my mind this whole year and these past couple of months. For the past week, in my head, I would tell myself I’m running 19.75, and obviously 19.67, so, you know, gotta love it.”
Gout’s performance in Sydney was more than just a personal achievement; it was a statement to the athletics world. The young athlete has chosen to pull out of the Commonwealth Games to focus on the 200m at the world under-20 championships in Oregon, which will begin on August 5. This decision highlights his commitment to competing at the highest level and building on the legacy of sprinting legends like Bolt, who began his record-breaking career with 200m gold at the 2002 world juniors.
“It’s a big weight off my shoulder knowing that I ran it legally, and I have the speed and body to run times like that,” Gout said. “I’m still only 18, just turned 18, so I definitely think I can go faster for sure.”
Gout’s main rival, Lachlan Kennedy, was not present in the 200m field. Kennedy withdrew from the event after running 9.96 seconds for the second time in as many days to win his first national 100m title on Saturday night. Despite this, Gout expressed admiration for Kennedy’s performance. “I was very itchy (watching Kennedy) for sure. Obviously props to Lachie,” Gout said. “He told me it’s all me, so I did my thing for sure.”
In other results from Sunday’s events, middle-distance star Jessica Hull secured victory in the 5000m with a time of 15:13.21 after withdrawing from the 800m due to soreness. Hull had previously lost her 1500m title to Claudia Hollingsworth after tripping while defending a challenge from the 20-year-old rising star.
Hollingsworth narrowly missed out on the 800m final on her 21st birthday, as she was outpaced by back-to-back winner Abbey Caldwell, who clocked 1:58.57.
Defending high jump world champion Nicola Olyslagers cleared 1.99m on her third attempt to claim victory, with Eleanor Patterson finishing second with a jump of 1.93m.
However, pole vaulter Kurtis Marschall faced a difficult day, failing to make a height. Two-time world champion bronze medallist Marschall fell short of 5.46m on three attempts, with Jack Downey taking victory with a jump of 5.24m.
Peter Bol successfully defended his national 800m title for the fifth consecutive time, winning with a time of 1:45.60. He narrowly edged out youngster Luke Boyes, prevailing by just 0.13 seconds.
