Gout Gout: 16-year-old runs fourth-fastest under-18 100m of all time
Australian Teenage Sprinting Sensation Gout Gout Shines at All-Schools Athletics Championships
Gout Gout, the Australian teenage sprinting prodigy, made headlines on Friday at the All-Schools Athletics Championships in Queensland with a remarkable performance. Despite the wind-assisted nature of the run, Gout clocked in at 10.04 seconds in the 100m heats, marking the fourth-fastest under-18 time in history. While this time does not count in official records, it also ranks as the fourth-fastest ever by an Australian sprinter of any age.
The current record for the fastest under-18 time is held by U.S. sprinter Erriyon Knighton, who set a wind-assisted 9.99 seconds in 2021. Following closely behind are Jelani Watkins and Puripol Boonson, with times of 10.02 in 2021 and 2023, respectively.
In the final, where wind conditions were normal, Gout continued to impress by running a legal 10.17 seconds. This time not only surpassed his personal best of 10.29 but also broke the previous Australian under-18 record of 10.27 held by Sebastian Sultana.
Reflecting on his performance, Gout expressed his excitement, stating, “I’ve been chasing this national record for a while now! In the heat, I thought I got it, but it was a crazy tailwind, so I just did the same thing and got the job done.”
Gout first gained attention in 2022 when he ran the 100m in 10.57 seconds as a 14-year-old. Over the past two years, the young sprinter, who will soon turn 17, has been likened to the legendary Usain Bolt. His accomplishments include a notable 200m time of 20.60 seconds at the 2024 World Athletics U20 Championships, surpassing Bolt’s record at the same age.
With a sponsorship deal from Adidas secured, Gout is setting his sights on even greater achievements. He mentioned plans to train overseas with Noah Lyles and coach Lance Brauman, aiming to qualify for the Tokyo World Championships.
Gout’s stellar performance at the All-Schools Athletics Championships not only solidifies his reputation as a rising star in the sprinting world but also sets the stage for what promises to be a bright future in the sport.
