The 20-second barrier in the 200m is a defining mark of world-class sprinting, a threshold that few ever cross. Now, for the first time in history, an Australian has done it. Teenage sprinting sensation Gout Gout has once again set the track on fire, running an eye-popping 19.98 seconds (+3.6 wind) in the 200m at the Queensland State Championships. The feat cemented his place as one of Australia’s most promising sprinters and also reignited comparisons with none other than Usain Bolt. But are these comparisons justified? Could Gout already be one of the greatest sprinters at just 17?
Breaking the elusive 20-second barrier is a defining moment in any sprinter’s career. Fewer than 140 athletes in history have ever done it under any conditions, and Gout is just the seventh Under-20 athlete to accomplish the feat, that too at only 17 years of age. Noah ran his first track at 20 years old, and Bolt at 18 years old. The Australian prodigy has made his ambitions clear; he wants to officially become the first Australian to break 20 seconds in the 200m under legal wind conditions and the second to crack the 10-second barrier in the 100m, where his best legal time currently stands at 10.17 seconds. With his latest achievement, those goals seem closer than ever.
A recent post by former professional track and field athlete Fitzdunk on Instagram highlighted just how rare Gout’s feat is. He has joined an elite club of 17-year-olds to run a sub-20 in the 200m, alongside legends Usain Bolt and Erriyon Knighton. Fitzdunk’s caption summed it up best, “The 17-year-old running 19 seconds in the 200m club just got a new member .” To put things into perspective, Usain Bolt clocked 19.93 seconds at age 17 on April 11, 2004, while Erriyon Knighton ran 19.84 seconds on June 21, 2021. The 17-year-old Australian has been drawing comparisons with Bolt for a while now, especially after breaking Bolt’s Under-16 200m world record last year with a time of 20.04 seconds.
Spanish sprint coach Pau Fradera has even noted that Gout is technically superior to Bolt at the same age, praising his more controlled and efficient running style. Adding even more excitement to his meteoric rise, Gout has openly challenged reigning world champion Noah Lyles, expressing his desire to compete for Lyles’ titles. Rather than brushing off the challenge, Lyles welcomed it with enthusiasm, encouraging the young sprinter to chase his ambitions with full force.
Gout’s competitive fire was further fueled after training with Lyles and his renowned coach Lance Brauman in Florida. The experience sharpened his skills while also reinforcing his belief that he could take on the world’s best sprinters. Gout Gout’s performance at the Queensland State Championships is just the latest chapter in what promises to be an extraordinary career. His ability to break barriers at such a young age, combined with his bold attitude and world-class training, positions him as a serious contender on the global sprinting stage.
Why Gout Gout is the next big star
It sounds like this year, the teenage world record maker is focused on breaking records. Just a little over four months ago, he destroyed Peter Norman’s Australian 200m record of 56 years, finishing the race in 20.04 seconds. Aside from getting the national record, it also placed the young Gout ahead of the great Usain Bolt for that age. But Gout is not just a one-event athlete. He shifted into the challenging 400m race in mid-February, which is a shift from his typical 100m and 200m sprints. He performed with style, finishing the race in 46.20 seconds, which is almost a second faster than Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles’ personal best.
In December 2024, Gout began his record-spree when he broke Bolt’s age-group world record by becoming the fastest-ever Oceanian athlete over the distance of half a lap at twenty years old. And if the manager’s statement is anything to go by, we should expect more. “We’re confident he’s kicked on further,” said Gout’s manager James Templeton while talking to The Guardian. “Gout is really looking forward to this weekend. As always, he’s looking to run fast. Faster than before.”
That prediction proved to be spot on. Gout already made a statement in the heats with a scorching 20.05-second run, placing him at the top of the 2024 rankings. Blazing past his competitors, including Zaine Leigh (22.10) and Liam Atkinson (22.12), Gout officially broke into the sub-20 club with a stunning 19.98-second finish—his fastest time ever.
With every race, the young phenomenon continues to prove that he’s not just a rising star—he’s already a force to be reckoned with. From shattering records to setting new benchmarks in multiple distances, his rapid progress suggests that this is just the beginning.
The post 17-Year-Old Gout Gout Achieves What Usain Bolt & Noah Lyles Couldn’t After Queensland Championship appeared first on EssentiallySports.