Rising Australian track sensation Gout Gout has sent shockwaves through the athletics world after clocking a breathtaking 9.99 seconds in the 100m sprint at the Australian Athletics Championships in Perth, despite easing up before the finish line.
The 17-year-old phenom’s electrifying performance, however, won’t be recognized as an official record due to a strong 3.5m/s tailwind, exceeding the legal limit of 2.0m/s.
Gout, who previously held a personal best of 10.04s, showcased his extraordinary potential by dipping under the coveted 10-second barrier in his Under-20s heat.
“Was it sub 10?,” Gout said immediately after the race.
“Yeah, I tapered off. It’s only a heat, so all I needed to do was qualify, so I’m happy with that. It doesn’t feel very special. This is the stuff you’ve got to do to get to the next level. Sub-10 was inevitable, and it happened today, so hopefully it can happen again.”
The current Australian men’s 100m record stands at 9.93 seconds, set by Patrick Johnson in 2003. Gout’s next opportunity comes in Thursday night’s final, where he will look to solidify his status as the nation’s fastest teenager.
World Indoor 60m silver medalist Lachlan Kennedy, is also aiming to break the 10-second barrier this weekend in the open 100m events. While the two won’t face off in the shorter sprint, they’ll clash in a highly anticipated 200m showdown on Sunday.
Gout already holds the Australian U20 200m record of 20.04s, surpassing even Usain Bolt’s time at the same age, 20.13s.
However, Kennedy recently got the better of him at the Maurie Plant Meet in Melbourne, edging Gout 20.26s to 20.30s. Their upcoming duel promises fireworks, with both athletes pushing each other toward new heights.
