Australian sprint sensation Gout Gout is facing fresh scrutiny over his stunning 19.67-second 200m performance at the Australian National Championships in Sydney. The 18-year-old's time, faster than Usain Bolt's at the same age, has drawn skepticism from American track and field figures.
Podcast Raises Doubts
On the FloTrack Meet Up podcast, hurdler DeVontae Ford and triple jumper Olumide Olamigoke Jr. questioned whether the timing was accurate. Ford said, 'If a bunch of people PR by a large margin, you start questioning if something is wrong with the system.' Olamigoke added, 'It's the margin of the previous personal best to what their personal best now is.' The hosts noted that the top seven finishers all set personal bests, including Gout improving from 20.0 to 19.67.
Previous Doubts Disproven
Earlier, US College sprinter Erin Brown claimed an illegal tailwind, but the recorded 1.7m/s wind was within legal limits. Brown later called the race 'clearly fake,' pointing out that multiple athletes ran half a second faster than their previous bests. Former Olympic gold medalist Justin Gatlin also cast doubt on the performance.
Fans Defend Gout Gout
Track fans have rallied behind the teenager, noting the event was the Australian national title race, not a 'random meet.' One user wrote, 'This was the end of the Australian domestic season. Every athlete was aiming to peak at this event.' Another called the podcast segment 'rage bait,' adding, 'Australia is not some 3rd world country with a jerry rigged timing system.'
Gout Gout's Response
Gout has dismissed the criticism, saying, 'There are always going to be haters. It motivates me to do it in even bigger races.' He previously ran 20.04 in his last race before the national championships.
Critics' Credentials
Olamigoke Jr., who competed for Nigeria in the 2016 Olympics triple jump, finished 32nd. Ford, a hurdles specialist, is ranked 182nd in the world in the 110m hurdles and 482nd in the 400m, according to World Athletics.
