Teenaged Australian sprinter Gout Gout continued to build his reputation as one of the best young sprinters in the world by breaching the U-20 mark, clocking 19.84 seconds to win the Australian 200m title.
He registered the second-best timing in 200m, behind Usain Bolt’s World Record of 19.19 seconds, set at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin.
In the process, he improved Usain Bolt’s 19.93 timing in 2004 and Justin Gatlin’s 19.86 in 2001.
His run at the 200m event followed his 100m crown at the Australian Athletics Championships in Perth on Friday in 9.99 sec.
His 100m timing also didn’t make it to the record books.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe has taken note of the youngster, describing him as a rare talent.
“Feels really good, that’s what I’ve been chasing,” said Gout of smashing through the 20-second barrier.
Gout was born in Australia after his parents migrated from South Sudan. He first rose to prominence after he clocked the fastest 200m timing by a 16-year-old at 20.04 sec, bettering Bolt’s record at that age.
He held his nerve after two athletes made false starts.
“I was a bit nervous,” he admitted. “But in my head, I’m just keeping my composure, keeping calm, because this stuff happens, you can’t really control it.
“So I just made sure I didn’t false start or be unsteady, and I took off.”
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