Gout Gout has achieved a new Australian under-20s record in the men's 100m sprint, running a 10.00 second race in Brisbane. This performance brings the young athlete very close to breaking the significant 10-second mark in a legal race. Gout Gout previously achieved times under 10 seconds, but these were not officially recognized due to excessive wind assistance.
Key Events and Timeline
The timeline of Gout Gout's notable performances in the 100m sprint, particularly those approaching or breaking the 10-second barrier, is as follows:
December 2024: Gout Gout ran a 9.94 second 100m in Perth, but this was not official due to a tailwind of +3.4m/s, exceeding the legal limit of +2.0m/s. This was just before his 17th birthday. He had also previously recorded a wind-assisted 10.04 seconds in the 200m.
April 10, 2025: At the Australian Athletics Championships in Perth, the 17-year-old Gout Gout officially ran 9.99 seconds twice in the men's under-20 100m heats and final. However, these times were wind-assisted, with winds of +3.5m/s in the heats and +2.6m/s in the final, thus not counting as official personal bests. This performance, though, put him in esteemed company with Australian record holders like Patrick Johnson and Rohan Browning.
April 2025: On another occasion in April, Gout Gout unofficially broke the 10-second barrier twice in one day, but these times were also not officially listed as personal bests due to wind assistance.
August 25, 2025: A report indicates Gout Gout ran 9.94 seconds, marking his first time under 10 seconds. However, this was again a wind-assisted performance.
February 21, 2026 (Approx.): In Brisbane, Gout Gout set a new Australian under-20s record with a time of 10.00 seconds in the 100m sprint.
Gout Gout's Choice of Competition
Gout Gout has decided not to compete in the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
His primary focus is the World Athletics Under 20 Championships, scheduled for August in Eugene, Oregon.
Record-Breaking Performances and Wind Assistance
Gout Gout's career has been marked by performances that have either broken or neared the 10-second barrier. However, several of these notable achievements have been officially disqualified due to exceeding the legal wind limit of +2.0m/s for record purposes.
| Date of Performance (Approx.) | Time (Seconds) | Event | Location | Wind Assistance (m/s) | Official Record Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 2024 | 9.94 | 100m | Perth | +3.4 | Not Official | Recorded days before 17th birthday; wind too strong. |
| April 10, 2025 | 9.99 | 100m (Heat) | Perth | +3.5 | Not Official | Australian Athletics Championships; wind too strong. |
| April 10, 2025 | 9.99 | 100m (Final) | Perth | +2.6 | Not Official | Australian U20 100m title; wind too strong. |
| April 2025 | <10.00 (x2) | 100m | Unknown | > +2.0 | Not Official | Unofficial times achieved in one day. |
| August 25, 2025 | 9.94 | 100m | Unknown | > +2.0 | Not Official | Reported as first time under 10 seconds but wind-affected. |
| February 21, 2026 (Approx.) | 10.00 | 100m | Brisbane | Unknown | Australian U20 Record | Legal time and new Australian U20 record. |
Athlete and Coach Confidence
Gout Gout's Coach, Di Sheppard, expressed confidence in his readiness for the season's opener, stating, "he and Di… were confident he was ready to run well."
Reports suggest Gout Gout has been "feeling good these last weeks" leading up to his recent performances.
There is a general sentiment that it is a matter of "when, not if" Gout Gout will achieve a legal sub-10 second run, with coaches believing "with spikes, better conditions, and continued development, Gout could not only break national records but contend globally."
Comparison to Usain Bolt
Gout Gout's sprinting abilities and performances have drawn comparisons to Usain Bolt, the eight-time Olympic gold medalist. Like Bolt, Gout Gout competes in both the 100 meters and 200 meters.
Read More: Gout Gout Equals Australian 100m Record in Brisbane on Saturday
Conclusion and Future Outlook
Gout Gout's 10.00 second performance in Brisbane signifies a crucial step in his athletic development, establishing a new Australian under-20 record. While his previous sub-10 second runs have been disqualified due to wind conditions, his consistent proximity to this mark, combined with official record-breaking achievements in the under-20 category, indicates strong potential. The athlete's deliberate focus on the World Athletics Under 20 Championships over other events highlights a strategic approach to his career. The prevailing view among observers and coaches is that a legal sub-10 second performance is an inevitability, contingent on continued development and favorable race conditions.
Sources Used:
abc.net.au: Reports on Gout Gout's 10.00 second Australian under-20 record in Brisbane and his prioritization of the World Athletics Under 20 Championships over the Commonwealth Games.
Link:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-21/gout-gout-sets-another-record-with-10-second-100m/106372384foxsports.com.au: Details Gout Gout's 10.00 second qualifying performance for the World Athletics Under 20 Championships and notes his previous wind-assisted sub-10 second runs.
Link:
https://www.foxsports.com.au/olympics/gout-gout-just-001-seconds-from-history-in-freakish-aussie-record-run-at-qld-athletics-meet/news-story/f6b3ceb565416d8bd99296569e0c8f8dcnn.com: Documents Gout Gout, at 17 years old, breaking the 10-second barrier twice with 9.99 seconds at the Australian Athletics Championships in Perth, noting the wind assistance.
Link:
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/10/sport/gout-gout-ten-second-100m-sprinting-spt-intl/index.htmlbbc.co.uk: Reports on 17-year-old Gout Gout running 9.99 seconds twice at the Australian Athletics Championships in Perth, winning the under-20 title.
Link:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/articles/cp31nnp6p20otalksport.com: Discusses Gout Gout's first-time 9.99 second sprint, noting it was wind-affected, and references a previous wind-assisted 10.04 in the 200m.
Link:
https://talksport.com/sport/3105382/gout-gout-breaks-10-second-barrier-for-first-time-but-theres-a-big-reason-why/athletics.com.au: Covers Gout Gout's two 9.99 second performances at the Australian Athletics Championships, acknowledging the windy conditions and placing him alongside Australian record holders.
Link:
https://www.athletics.com.au/news/gout-goes-sub-10-twice-as-low-and-langdon-shatter-world-records/sportbible.com: Mentions Gout Gout running 9.94 seconds for the first time under 10 seconds, but states the record will not be official due to a +3.4m/s tailwind, and notes his official record stands at 10.17 seconds.
Link:
https://www.sportbible.com/athletics/gout-gout-100m-record-athletics-113961-20250825therunnerjournal.org: Highlights Gout Gout's sub-10 second runs, achieved twice in one day without spikes, and discusses the anticipation of a legal sub-10 performance.
Link:
https://www.therunnerjournal.org/post/gout-gout-stuns-with-sub-10-second-100m-twice-in-one-day-and-without-spikes
