Australian teenage sprinting sensation Gout Gout made headlines at the All-Schools Athletics Championships in Queensland by clocking an impressive 10.04 seconds in the 100m heats, marking the fourth-fastest under-18 time in history. Although wind-assisted, this run also secured him the fourth-fastest time ever recorded by an Australian sprinter of any age. The fastest under-18 time remains with US sprinter Erriyon Knighton at 9.99 seconds, achieved in 2021.
In the final, Gout ran a legal 10.17 seconds, surpassing his personal best of 10.29 and breaking the previous Australian under-18 record of 10.27 held by Sebastian Sultana. Expressing his excitement, Gout mentioned, '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. His recent performance at the 2024 World Athletics U20 Championships, where he clocked 20.60 seconds in the 200m event, has drawn comparisons to legendary sprinter Usain Bolt. Gout's upcoming participation in the 200m event at the championships in Queensland has further heightened expectations for his future.
With an Adidas sponsorship deal in place and aspirations to qualify for the Tokyo World Championships, Gout is set to train with renowned sprinter Noah Lyles and coach Lance Brauman in January. Reflecting on his achievements, Gout stated, 'Hopefully, we can qualify for the Tokyo World Championships. If not, I'll just finish my school in Year 12.'
