15-year-old Gout Gout smashes 41-year Aussie record, just misses Usain Bolt

15-year-old Gout Gout is about to become a household name, with a sizzling run which puts him in the rarefied air of Usain Bolt.

The 15-year-old has almost matched Usain Bolt. Photo: Casey Sims

Queensland 15-year-old Gout Gout has stormed into the record books with a ridiculous run in the final of the men’s under-18 200m at the Junior Athletics Championships in Brisbane.

The Ipswich Grammar student ran an extraordinary 20.87 into the wind to set a new Australian under-18s record, breaking the joint mark of 20.90 held by Darren Clark from 1982, Paul Greene in 1989 and Zane Branco in 2017.

Stream Over 50 Sports Live & On-Demand with Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

Clark was a two-time Olympic finalist, and has held the Oceanic record for the 400m since 1988, being inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 2000.

The previous record holders were all at least a year older than Gout was when they ran the time, with Gout only turning 15 in December.

20.87 200m at the age of 15 👀

🇦🇺’s Gout Gout is a rising star on home soil as he sets a national U20 record 👏

pic.twitter.com/TD702HpIXO

— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) April 15, 2023

Gout said the win underlined a “mind-blowing” season so far.

“It means a lot because I’ve been training so much for this,” he said after the race.

“I was really nervous. The gun went, and I was good and I just kept pushing.

“It’s like you can’t feel any ground contact, it feels like you are floating.

“This season has been mind-blowing for me. Last year I came fourth and sixth at nationals, and then I came out at All Schools and won.

“I was really motivated because I took last year personally, it always feels better when you are winning.”

At age 15, legendary sprinter Usain Bolt’s quickest recorded time over 200 metres was 20.58, and that was with a +1.4 tailwind.

Adjusting times for wind, it puts Gout only a tenth of a second behind the consensus greatest sprinter of all time.

Gout has attracted overseas interest after the win, also holding the under-16 Australian records in the 100 and 200 metre.

His personal best over 100 metres is a faintly ridiculous 10.43, but he will be looking to better that in the under-18s 100 metre final on Sunday.