Australian Teen Sprinter Sets World Age Record in 200 Meters

A movement scientist at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia, noted that the athlete excels at releasing explosive energy stored in his Achilles tendons and uses fewer steps by creating height as he runs down the track.

During the Australian secondary school championships in December 2024, the athlete, then 16, recorded 20.04 seconds in the 200-meter dash. The time set a new Australian record and broke a world age-group mark previously set by Usain Bolt in 2003. It also surpassed a record from the 1968 Olympics.

Last fall, at age 17, he finished fourth in his semi-final heat at the Track World Championships in Tokyo. Last month in Sydney, he became the fastest teenager ever in the 200m with a time of 19.67 seconds. That performance would have earned a bronze medal at the 2024 Olympics.

"My first couple steps I had a good start. And if I have a good start, you know, it's kind of over. Because my top-end speed is great. And once I get into top-end speed, I'm flying," Gout said.

The athlete graduated from Ipswich Grammar School in December with straight A's. He continues to train with local children in his hometown rather than at a specialized world-class facility. Both the athlete and coach believe this environment remains the most suitable for his current development.

"It's crazy to think about how you want to run as fast as possible but you don't want to overload too much when you're a teenager because then that messes up the rest of your career," Gout said. " The 2028 Olympics will be held in Los Angeles, followed by the 2032 Games in Brisbane, Australia, when the sprinter will be 24 years old.

Sprinters typically reach peak performance in their mid-20s.