World Athletics U20: Gout Gout 2nd As South Africa’s Walaza Wins 200m Gold

• Teenage sprint sensation Gout Gout was beaten to the gold medal in the 200m final at the World Athletics Under-20 Championships
• The Australian sprinter Gout Gout, who has South Sudanese heritage, took silver behind South Africa's Bayanda Walaza
• The 16-year-old has grabbed the headlines in the last few weeks after one of his performances went viral

South Africa's Bayanda Walaza was on fire in the 200m final at the 2024 World Athletics Under-20 Championships in Peru.

The sprinter defeated favourite Gout Gout in a perfectly executed race, and he secured his second gold medal after winning the 100m gold.

It was an impressive silver medal for Gout Gout, the Australian with South Sudanese heritage.

Walaza took of strongly

The South African got a great start and even a superb bend, leaving Gout to play catch-up in the last 100m.

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The Australian sensation was out of the medal position in the last 100m, but his incredible top-end speed nearly won him a gold medal.

He chased down Walaza and was closing in fast, but he ran out of track as the South African held on to win.

Walaza crossed the line in 20.52 seconds while the gangly Australian set a new personal best of 20.60 seconds.

Jake Odey-Jordan of Great Britain finished third with a time of 20.81 seconds, per World Athletics.

Gout was born in Brisbane in 2007 to Monica and Bona, who migrated to Australia from South Sudan in 2005.

"I feel really relieved after a long two weeks of being in Lima," Gout said via ABC. "I've been training, grinding and waiting patiently for this moment to happen. Now that it's done, I'm really glad and ready to rest up for the relay."

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Gout Gout gets praise

YEN.com.gh earlier reported that Australian sprinter Gout Gout obliterated the field to win the 100m race in 10.29 seconds.

The youngster did not have the best start, but after hitting top speed, he was gone, and fans warned Bolt that his world record was in trouble.

Gout Gout's compared to Bolt

YEN.com.gh also reported that Gout Gout responded to fans and analysts comparing him to Usain Bolt, the world record holder in the 100m and 200m.

The youngster was honoured to be compared to Bolt, adding that it would be a great accomplishment if he reached Bolt's level.

Source: TUKO.co.ke