Gout Gout: Australian sensation breaks world U-20 200m record, faster than Usain Bolt at 18

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New Delhi: Australian teenage sprint sensation Gout Gout broke the world U-20 record in 200m at the Australian Athletics Championships on Sunday. The 18-year-old clocked an impressive time of 19.67 seconds to win the 200m race and become faster than the legendary Usain Bolt at the same age.

Bolt’s best timing in 200m before turning 23 was 19.93 seconds. Gout broke the Jamaican legend’s U-23 record by finishing the 200m race at the Australian Athletics Championships in 19.67 seconds. The 18-year-old became the first Australian athlete to win a 200m race under 20 seconds.

Gout, who was born in Queensland to his parents from South Sudan, broke the previous U-20 world 200m record set by Erriyon Knighton. He also improved his own national Australian record of 20.02m, which he set last year. It was the first time that Gout managed to legally clock under 20 seconds in 200m.

He clocked 19.84 seconds last season, but that was with the assistance of the wind, due to which the timing was not legally recognised. However, on Sunday, Gout proved his doubters wrong and sent a warning to his rivals with his timing of 19.67 seconds in the 200m final at the Australian Athletics Championships.

Aidan Murphy also recorded a time of under 20 seconds in the 200m final on Sunday, becoming the second Australian to do so. He finished second behind Gout with a time of 19.88 seconds. Calab Law bagged the third place in the race with a timing of 20.21 seconds.

“This is what I’ve been waiting for,” said Gout after winning the 200m race at his national championships.

“We have such incredible athletes in Australia, and me being able to race these athletes, we push each other to the limits. Two Australians sub-20. I mean, this is amazing,” he added.

All you need to know about Gout Gout