By Iain Payten
Peter Norman would have been “absolutely thrilled” to see teenage phenomenon Gout Gout break his 56-year Australian record for the 200 metres on Saturday, and the 16-year-old’s Sudanese heritage is a “special” part of the story given Norman’s involvement in a stand for racial equality at the 1968 Olympics.
That’s the view of Matt Norman, the nephew of Peter, who made the documentary Salute about his uncle’s silver medal win in the 200m in Mexico City, where Norman famously shared the dais with Tommie Smith and John Carlos as they performed a human rights salute. Norman, who died in 2006, knew of the planned salute and wore a badge on his tracksuit supporting it.
Norman’s time of 20.06 seconds at altitude also grew in fame over the decades, given no Australian runner could beat it – until Gout eclipsed the longest-standing national record in incredible scenes in Brisbane at the Australian All-Schools championship on Saturday.
Living up to the enormous hype, the gangly teenager ran a sizzling 20.04 seconds and finally relegated Norman to second best.
Matt Norman said he had spoken to Gout in a phone call on Sunday morning and told him Peter would have been overjoyed to see the record fall.
“I said to him, ‘Peter always wanted his record to be broken, and for someone like you to break it, is just remarkable. Trust me when I say Peter would have been really proud of you as well,’” he said.
Gout Gout after breaking the Australian 200m record in Brisbane on Saturday.Credit: Getty Images
“Peter would be absolutely thrilled that a young kid like Gout has broken his record. We are all absolutely stunned that its finally happened after 56 years. We have been hoping for it. Peter did say before he died that it’s the one thing he wanted to see in his life – a young Australian runner beating it – so I know for sure he would be absolutely thrilled.”
Peter Norman’s daughter, Sandra, also hailed Gout’s achievement on social media.
Australia's Peter Norman (left) joins American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos on the podium during the famous "Black Power" demonstration in 1968.Credit: AP
“CONGRATULATIONS Gout Gout from one of Peter Norman’s daughters and the rest of our family
Dad would absolutely have loved this!!!!,” she posted.
Peter Norman’s support for Smith’s and Carlos’ famous stance on human rights, and presence in one of sport’s most iconic photos, made him a celebrated figure in the US. Matt Norman is in talks with a Hollywood studio about turning the story into a film.
Norman said the fact his uncle’s record was broken by a youngster whose family came to Australia as refugees from South Sudan was a fitting layer to the story.
“You have no idea how ironic and beautiful that is,” Norman said. “For me, I think stands out as something special about it – a cherry on top.
“Peter didn’t mind his record being broken. He was waiting for it, and he’d waited a long time, before he died. Unfortunately, he is not around to have seen it, but I know he’d be really proud [of Gout].
“Talking to him, he is really confident, and he wants to make Peter proud, for sure. I said, ‘We are all really proud of you. You’re only a kid, and we are very excited to see where you go now.’”
Not for the first time, Gout’s feats earned him global attention. Major news organisations around the world carried reports about his 200m run.
The time made him the fastest 16-year-old over 200m in history, surpassing the record (20.13) set by Usain Bolt in 2004. Bolt ran 19.93 the next year as a 17-year-old.
Gout’s time would have placed him sixth in the 200m Olympic final in Paris this year, and has earned him a spot at the World Athletics Championships next year.
After Gout had lowered the national under-18 records for both the 100m (10.17s) and the 200m, another rising star – Terrell Thorne – broke the under-18 400m record on Sunday at the schools championship.
Thorne, who finished runner-up to Gout in the 200m, clocked 45.64 for the one-lap sprint.
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