Gout Gout and Coach Open Up About Key Worry After Breaking Usain Bolt's Record

Gout Gout’s coach, Diane Sheppard, has opened up about her major worry as the 18-year-old crossed the finish line in the men’s 200m at the national athletics championships at Sydney Olympic Park on Sunday.

Gout Gout clocked an impressive 19.67 seconds, setting a new national record while also breaking the Under-20 world record. His time also obliterated Usain Bolt's best Under-20 time of 19.93 seconds set in 2004.

However, as he won the race, Gout Gout and his coach were concerned about something that had always occurred in environments where he ran fast times.

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Speaking to ABC Sport after the race, Gout Gout’s coach explained that in the immediate aftermath of the record-breaking run, she reacted with disbelief, turning toward the officials for confirmation and anxiously seeking clarity on whether the time would stand.

She added that the response from the officials quickly confirmed the result, which left her both stunned and impressed, noting that while there had been expectations of a strong performance dipping below a certain benchmark, the actual outcome far exceeded what they had realistically anticipated.

“All I did was turn around. I was standing next to the media box, and I'm banging on the window, going, ‘Is it legal, is it legal?’ And they just turned around and pointed at the clock, so yeah, it was pretty like, I didn't expect that. I was hoping for just under 20, but not that,” she said.

“We've had the wind against us so many times. And we thought it was going to be one of those days today, too. And I'm standing there watching it. Start now. Start now. You know, like the next minute they went.

“He's coming around the bend, and I'm like, oh man, you better move your ass. And then get those hands moving, and yeah, you get it. And the relief, like he said it was. Oh yeah. Yep, 100% and it's done because we know the potential is there.”

On his part, Gout Gout said the achievement meant a great deal to him, explaining that he had been relentlessly pursuing a legitimate sub-20-second performance ever since an earlier run was ruled invalid.

The world under-20 200m silver medallist noted that the target had stayed in his thoughts throughout the year and intensified in recent months, which made finally accomplishing it especially satisfying.

Gout Gout added that he had mentally locked onto a specific time goal in the days leading up to the race, repeatedly visualising hitting that mark, but ultimately surpassed even his own expectations with a significantly faster result.

He described the moment as extraordinary and admitted it brought a strong sense of relief, particularly after previously proving to himself that he had the physical ability, but lacking official confirmation.

“Indeed, I mean, I read sports. I read down to 19.75, and for the past week I've been telling myself I'm running 19.75 and obviously 19.67, so you know, gotta love it. It's absolutely insane. I guess you could say a big weight off my shoulders knowing that I ran illegally and that I have the speed and body to run times like that, so it definitely feels great, and I’m ready for more,” Gout Gout said.

“At the end of the day, it's only me that steps out on that track, so I just think about myself, think about my training and think about the people in my group, and that takes me far.”