Australian sprinting prodigy Gout Gout has made headlines by breaking Olympic champion Noah Lyles’ personal best in the 400 meters.
At the Joanna Stone Shield meet in Brisbane on February 15, 2025, the 17-year-old clocked an impressive 46.20 seconds, nearly a full second faster than Lyles’ 47.04 seconds set in 2016. This performance also marked the fastest under-18 time by an Australian in 35 years.
Gout Gout’s Rapid Ascent
Gout Gout’s meteoric rise in sprinting has been nothing short of remarkable. At just 14 years old in 2022, he set the Australian under-16 100 meters record with a time of 10.57 seconds.
The following year, he broke the Australian under-18 men’s 200 meters record with a 20.87-second run at the Australian Junior Athletics Championships in Brisbane. In December 2024, he achieved a personal best of 10.04 seconds in the 100 meters, setting the fourth-fastest under-18 time globally and the fifth-fastest by an Australian.
The next day, he ran 20.04 seconds in the 200 meters, ranking as the second-fastest under-18 performance of all time and breaking the Australian and Oceanian record previously held since 1968 by Peter Norman.
Training with Noah Lyles
In a strategic move to enhance his training, Gout Gout has been working alongside Noah Lyles and coach Lance Brauman in the United States. This collaboration aims to refine his sprinting technique and prepare him for future competitions, including the Tokyo World Championships. While his primary focus remains on the 100 meters and 200 meters, Gout Gout’s foray into the 400 meters has yielded impressive results, as evidenced by his recent performance in Brisbane.
Noah Lyles’ Legacy
Noah Lyles, a prominent figure in sprinting, is renowned for his achievements in the 100 meters and 200 meters. He secured gold in the 100 meters at the Paris 2024 Olympics and has been a consistent performer in the Diamond League. His personal best in the 400 meters, set in 2016, stood as a benchmark for emerging sprinters like Gout Gout.
Implications for the Sprinting World
Gout Gout’s recent performance not only highlights his individual talent but also signals a potential shift in the sprinting landscape. His ability to challenge established athletes like Lyles at such a young age suggests a promising future for Australian sprinting. As he continues to develop and gain experience, Gout Gout’s presence in international competitions is anticipated to inspire and elevate the level of competition in the sprinting community.
