Schoolboy phenomenon Gout Gout has broken 10 seconds in the 100 metres, but he did so with an illegal wind at his back.
A +3.5 metres per second tailwind was blowing in Perth as Gout ran 9.99s in the under-20s 100m at the national championships.
Gout Gout enjoys his victory in the heats.Credit: Getty Images
Frustratingly, the wind was a legal +1.4 for the race two minutes prior to Gout’s.
The wind at his back was one thing, but Gout got a good start, which is normally the weakest stage of his race, and was powerful through the middle stages but completely shut down at least 30 metres from the line, knowing he had the race won.
Gout’s effort, which looked effortless, suggested that if he gets a legal wind later on Thursday for the final, the 17-year-old is extremely well-placed to not only break 10 seconds but to break it convincingly.
Forget the wind, Gout has proven he can roll his legs over to get down the track in less than 10 seconds.
“It was pretty good, just got to focus on my recovery and see what I can do in the final,” Gout said.
“It’s only a heat, that’s all I needed to do so that’s what I did and I’m happy with that.
“It doesn’t feel very special because this is the stuff you have to do to get to the next level, sub-10 was inevitable, it happened today so I’m hoping it can happen again.”
Despite his age, Gout is reaching the point where nothing he does is surprising.
Patrick Johnson, who ran 9.93 in 2003 in Japan, is the only Australian male to have broken 10 seconds for the 100m.