Gout Gout dips under 20 seconds for 200m with illegal tailwind at Queensland Athletics Championships

Gout Gout clocked a sub-20-second time in the 200m race, but the result will not be recognized as a national record due to excessive tailwind. This occurred at the Queensland Athletics Championships in Brisbane during the U20 men's final, where Gout ran a time of 19.98 seconds with a tailwind of 3.6 meters per second.

According to regulations, a result is only considered legitimate if the wind speed does not exceed 2.0 meters per second. Nevertheless, this is still the fastest 200m time run internationally under all conditions this year, although most Northern Hemisphere athletes have yet to begin their outdoor season. This performance underscores Gout's potential on the global stage.

The time is also the second-fastest ever run by an Australian under all conditions, behind only the 19.92 seconds set by Namibia's four-time Olympic silver medalist Frankie Fredericks in 1999. Gout previously ran a legal time of 20.05 seconds (+1.2m) in the heats, just shy of his Australian record, which at one point was also the world's best time of the year. This consistency highlights his remarkable talent.

Last December, Gout broke the national record held by Peter Norman for 56 years when he ran 20.04 seconds at the Australian All Schools Athletics Championships in Brisbane. Norman won a silver medal at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics in 20.06 seconds. "Around the bend, I felt like I could really kick," Gout said. "I felt happy and surprised, and also like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders."

Gout, who is currently in Year 12 at Ipswich Grammar School, has already felt the passion he inspires in athletics. The usually sparse stands at the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre (QSAC) were packed with families hoping to see their local idol. "It feels great because I used to look at people like Usain Bolt and get goosebumps," Gout said. "It feels great that I can give other people goosebumps."

Prior to breaking Norman's long-standing national record, Gout had already set multiple Australian age-group records in the 100m and 200m. His success on the track over the past two years has even turned some viewers who don't regularly follow athletics into social media fans through viral videos. In January, Gout trained in the United States with Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles. The Queenslander is coached by Di Sheppard, who spotted his potential when Gout was in Year 7.

Gout will have another opportunity to legally break the 20-second barrier at the Maurie Plant Meet in Melbourne on March 29. He is also expected to compete at the Australian Athletics Championships in Perth next month. Gout has also agreed to participate in the 143rd Stawell Gift, a handicap race run on grass, over the Easter weekend. These upcoming competitions will provide further opportunities for Gout to showcase his exceptional talent.