Australian teenager Gout Gout showcased his incredible potential by running the 200 metres in a wind-assisted time of 19.98 seconds at the Queensland state championships, a performance that drew comparisons to sprinting legend Usain Bolt. Although the strong breeze of 3.6 metres per second prevented his time from being recorded officially, his heat result of 20.05 seconds stood as the fastest in the world this year so far, particularly noteworthy given that many sprinters are currently not competing outdoors.
Gout, the son of South Sudanese migrants, has already made headlines with his impressive running style and is on a mission to become the first Australian to break the 20-second mark in the 200m event. His personal best time of 20.04 seconds, achieved at QSAC in December, narrowly missed breaking the Australian record set by Peter Norman at the 1968 Olympics.
As he embarks on his final year of high school in Ipswich, not far from Brisbane—where the Olympic Games are set to be held in 2032—he is fueled by ambitious goals. Gout aims not only to break the 200m record but also aspires to become the second Australian to run the 100m in under 10 seconds, with his current best legal time standing at 10.17 seconds.
Gout’s next opportunity to further his ambitions will be at the Maurie Plant Meet in Melbourne on March 29, where he hopes to continue his journey toward Olympic success. His story exemplifies how hard work and determination can lead to incredible achievements, providing hope and inspiration for young athletes around the globe.
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