Teen sprint star Gout Gout breaks Peter Norman's 56-year national 200m record
Gout Gout (centre) celebrates with his manager James Templeton (left) and coach Di Sheppard. (Getty Images: Cameron Spencer)
In short:
Gout Gout ran 20.04 seconds to break the national men's 200-metre record, which had stood for 56 years.
The previous national mark was 20.06, held by Peter Norman.
What's next?
Gout will travel to the United States next month to train with Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles.
Queensland 16-year-old Gout Gout has broken the national men's 200 metres record, which has stood since 1968.
Gout continued his incredible rise to run 20.04 seconds in the men's under-18 200m final at the Australian All Schools Athletics Championships in Brisbane on Saturday with a legal wind (+1.5).
He dipped under the previous record of 20.06 held by Peter Norman, which had been the longest-standing national mark.
Norman ran that time when he claimed silver in the men's 200m at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, before showing support for fellow medallists Tommie Smith and John Carlos during the Black Power salute.
Gout's time is faster than what Usain Bolt ran as a 16-year-old — 20.13 — and second on the men's all-time world under-18 list behind American Erriyon Knighton (19.84).
"I've been chasing that record, but I didn't think it would come this year," Gout said.
"I thought it'd come maybe next year, [or] the year after that."
Gout, who ran from lane seven in the final, added: "I came off the bend after that rocky start, after a false start, and as soon as the gun went, I was flying, and just came home.
"It's pretty crazy. Right now I can't process it, but I guess tonight when I go to bed, I'll think about it."
Gout (right) and Sheppard enjoy the national record. (Getty Images: Cameron Spencer)
Gout smashed his previous personal best time of 20.29, which he ran last month.
His astonishing display came a day after he set a national men's under-18 record in the 100m with a time of 10.17.
Earlier on Friday, Gout produced a time of 10.04 in the 100m heats but had the assistance of an illegal tailwind (+3.4).
Gout has become a social media sensation even to casual observers of athletics who have gorged on viral videos of his track success.
He has claimed several age group records over the 100m and 200m.
Gout won silver at the World U20 Championships earlier this year. (AAP Image: Athletics Australia/Andrew Hilditch)
Gout won a silver medal in the 200m at the World U20 Championships in Lima last August.
"I've been getting pressure. My video went viral right before world juniors," Gout said.
"You know what they say, pressure makes diamonds. I'm better than a diamond right now."
The Queensland-based athlete is coached by Di Sheppard, who first spotted her charge when he was in year 7 at Ipswich Grammar.
He will turn 17 on December 29 and will travel with Sheppard to the United States next month for a brief training stint with Olympic men's 100m champion Noah Lyles.