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16-year-old sprint sensation Gout Gout clocked 20.29s in the 200m heats at the Queensland All Schools Track and Field Championships to break the Australian U20 record and make history as the fastest 200m Australian man since 1993. Having signed a professional deal with Adidas on October 28, 2024, he faded to 20.52s but still claimed the title in the final 200m run.
Born in Ipswich to South Sudanese parents, Gout Gout ran the U-18 record-breaking 200m dash at the 2023 Australian Junior Athletics Championships and also set a National U-20 record as a 15-year-old.
In March 2024, the Australian recorded his personal best time of 10.29s over the 100m distance (U-18 Boys) at the Queensland Athletics Championships in Brisbane. His time would have advanced him to the men's first round at the 2024 Paris Games. He continued the momentum at an Adelaide event in April, winning the Australian U-20 100m title in 10.48s. He also entered the 2024 World Athletics U20 Championships as a part of the Australian team, clinching the 200m silver courtesy of his impressive feat.
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The U-16 National record holder in the 100m and 200m competed at the Queensland All Schools Track and Field Championships on Sunday, November 3, 2024. He blazed through the contentious 200m field and clocked 20.29s, the fastest by an Australian man since Dean Capobianco clocked 20.18 at the 1993 Stuttgart World Championships. The 16-year-old's effort also broke the Australian U20 record.
In the Australian half-lap sprint all-time list, Gout Gout earned the fourth position after his record-breaking run. In the 200m finals at the Queensland All Schools Track and Field Championships, he finished first in 20.52s.
The Aussie also participated in the 100m, clocking 10.3s, just 0.02s shy of his personal best time.
Gout Gout was compared with track great Usain Bolt for his incredible pace
Gout Gout's pace and speed set the track ablaze, compelling fans to compare him with world record holder, Usain Bolt. In an interview with Fox Sports, the 16-year-old acknowledged the comparison but expressed a desire to forge his own path in the track world.
"It’s pretty cool because Usain Bolt is arguably the greatest athlete of all time and just being compared to him is a great feeling. Obviously I’m Gout Gout so I’m trying make a name for myself. If I can get to the level he was that would be a great achievement," he said.
The 16-year-old competed in the 4x100m relay at the 2024 World U20 Championships, where his team finished fifth with a time of 39.64.
