Credited from: REUTERS
Australian teenage sprinter Gout Gout made headlines during his first senior race abroad at the Golden Spike meet in Ostrava, where he clocked 20.02 seconds, breaking his own national record by two hundredths of a second. He crossed the finish line 0.17 seconds ahead of Cuba's Reynier Mena, solidifying his status as a rising star in athletics, according to BBC, Channel News Asia, and Reuters.
Diving into details, Gout managed to better the previous record he established last December, a mark that had stood for 56 years at 20.04 seconds. His time at Ostrava also surpassed Usain Bolt's performance at his first appearance in the same venue in 2006, who finished in 20.28 seconds. Gout's impressive run has sparked comparisons to the Jamaican legend among spectators and experts alike, as reported by Al Jazeera and India Times.
Following his record-setting run, Gout stated, "I feel good. New personal best, new national record in my first European race." He maintains a relaxed attitude towards competition, emphasizing, "I don't feel any pressure... it's just me by myself... my favourite thing, and that's to run," according to Channel News Asia, Reuters, and India Times.