Gout Gout clocked 10.19 seconds in the heats of the under-20 men’s 100 meters at the Australian Athletics Junior Championships, held in Brisbane. His impressive national record of 19.67 seconds for the 200 meters has faced skepticism from retired Olympic champion Justin Gatlin.
The 18-year-old sprinter now has the opportunity to legally achieve a sub-10-second time in the 100 meters during the semi-finals and finals scheduled for Saturday. If successful, he would join an exclusive group of Australian athletes who have accomplished this feat.
Patrick Johnson currently holds the national record at 9.93 seconds, set in 2003, while Lachie Kennedy has recently recorded times of 9.96 seconds during the Australian Athletics Championships in Sydney.
Gout’s remarkable performance in the 200 meters not only secured him the title but also marked him as the first Australian to officially break the 20-second barrier for the event. His time also established a new world record for the under-20 category, surpassing the previous best achieved by Usain Bolt at the same age.
However, Justin Gatlin, the 2004 Olympic gold medalist in the 100 meters, expressed doubt about Gout’s achievements, suggesting that his successes need to be proven outside of Australia. Gatlin remarked, “You can run fast in comfort. Everyone can run fast in comfort. But can you run fast in discomfort? That’s where it’s at.”
In response to Gatlin’s comments, Gout indicated that such skepticism might stem from jealousy. “There will always be critics. If critics exist, it means you are on the right path,” Gout stated during a press conference. He emphasized that he remains unfazed and focused on his performance, attributing the criticism to his impressive times.
Looking ahead to Saturday’s competition at the Queensland Sports and Athletics Centre (QSAC), Gout expressed confidence in his ability to run under 10 seconds legally, aiming to surpass his personal best of 10.00 seconds, which he set earlier this year in Brisbane. “If the wind conditions are favorable, anything is possible,” he remarked.
Gout also mentioned that he had paced himself during the heats to save energy for the upcoming rounds. “I definitely have more left in the tank. Last week was a strong performance, and I’m eager to continue showcasing my abilities in these championships,” he added.
Previously, Gout recorded times of 9.99 seconds with illegal wind assistance at the under-20 national championships in Perth last year.
