Teenage Prodigy Gout Gout Breaks Usain Bolt’s Record, Becomes Fastest 16 Year Old in 200m

• Gout Gout has shattered the Australian 200m national record at the All Schools Athletics Championships
• The 16-year-old clocked 20.04 seconds to break a record that had stood since the 1968 Mexico City Olympics
• The youngster, who has South Sudan roots, has been compared to Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt

Teenage sprint sensation Gout Gout has smashed Australia's 200m record at the Australian All Schools Athletics Championships.

The 16-year-old, who has South Sudanese heritage, clocked 20.04 seconds, breaking Peter Norman's 56-year national record.

On Friday, the teenager clocked 10.17 seconds in the 100m, an Australian under-18 record.

Gout Gout continues to catch the eye of sports fans after one of his races went viral earlier this year. Some have compared the youngster to Jamaican sprint icon Usain Bolt.

Gout Gout sets new 200m record

After clocking an astonishing 10.04 seconds (wind assisted) in the 100m, the world Under-20 silver medallist was expected to deliver another epic performance in the 200m.

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Teenage sprint sensation with South Sudan roots sets new 100m record

He destroyed the field on Saturday, breaking Norman's record of 10.06 seconds set at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics.

He crossed the line in 20.04 seconds, the second-fastest 200m time among under-18 athletes. Bolt recorded a time of 20.13 seconds at the same age. He'll be looking to break the record of USA's Erriyon Knighton, who clocked a time of 19.84 seconds in 2021.

“These are adult times and me, just a kid – I’m running them. It’s going to be a great future for sure,” Gout said per Athletics Australia.

“I didn’t expect it to be that fast, but I guess I ran Australia’s fastest ever time in the 200. I have been chasing that record but I didn’t think it would come this year. I thought maybe next year or the year after that.”

Gout could participate in the 2025 World Athletics Championships and will likely be in his prime during the 2032 Olympics, which Australia will host, per The Guardian.

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Gout Gout wins world silver

YEN.com.gh earlier reported that South Africa's Bayanda Walaza claimed gold in the 200m final at the World Athletics Under-20 Championships, clocking 20.52 seconds.

Australian sprinter Gout Gout secured the silver medal, finishing close behind with a time of 20.60 seconds.

Gout Gout responds to Bolt comparisons

YEN.com.gh also reported that Australian sprinter Gout Gout responded to comparisons with Usain Bolt, acknowledging the Jamaican's legacy while expressing his ambition to carve out his own path in athletics and eventually emulate Bolt's success.

Source: TUKO.co.ke