Sprint star Gout Gout, known as Australia's fastest man in the 200m, delivered a stunning performance at the Queensland Athletics Championships, achieving a world-leading time. In the under-20 heats, Gout clocked an impressive 20.05 seconds, marking the fastest 200m time globally for 2025 across all age groups. This remarkable feat surpassed the previous best of 20.13 seconds set by Zimbabwe's Makanakaishe Charamba in Texas just last month. However, Gout's most impressive moment came during the final in Brisbane.
In the U20 200m final, Gout broke the 20-second barrier for the first time, finishing with a wind-assisted 19.98 seconds. Although the time was not officially recognized due to a +3.6m/s tailwind, it stands as the fastest 200m by an Australian under any conditions and ranks as the sixth-fastest by an under-20 athlete. Reflecting on his performance, Gout said, "At the bend, I felt I could really push it. I'm thrilled and relieved."
During the 200m heat, Gout finished just 0.01 seconds shy of the national record he set at the same venue last December, with a legal wind of +1.2m/s. Although slightly off his personal best of 20.04 seconds (+1.5m/s), he once again surpassed the longstanding Australian record of 20.06 seconds held by Peter Norman since the 1968 Mexico City Olympics.
Gout is closing in on Usain Bolt's 200m time of 19.93 seconds at the same age. Having turned 17 in December, Gout surpassed Bolt's 16-year-old personal best of 20.13 seconds when he broke the national record last year. "It's amazing to think I've watched athletes like Usain Bolt and felt inspired," Gout shared. "Now, to inspire others is incredible."
The year 12 student also secured the U20 100m title with a time of 10.38 seconds in the state championships final. He had previously eased through his heat with a time of 10.39 seconds against a slight headwind and faced a -1.4m/s wind in the final.
Gout is currently in intensive training, aiming for the Maurie Plant meet on March 29 and the national championships in Western Australia in April. He is part of a promising group of Australian sprinters, including Lachie Kennedy, Josh Azzopardi, Jacob Despard, Calab Law, and Jack Hale, all vying for the $40,000 prize at the 120m Stawell Gift on Easter Sunday.