Gout Gout has even surprised himself, on his way to smashing his own national 200-metre record at the Australian Athletics Championships in Sydney.

The 18-year-old sprint sensation produced a breathtaking race, running 19.67 seconds to defend his title and captivate the global athletics scene.

It’s the first time the Queenslander has run under 20 seconds legally, lowering his previous mark of 20.02 seconds.

“I’ve been chasing it ever since I got that illegal sub-20. It’s been on my mind this whole year … glad I got it for sure,” he told reporters afterwards.

“I wrote down 19.75 and for the past week in my head I’ve been telling myself I’m running 19.75, and obviously 19.67, so gotta love it.”

Lachlan Kennedy withdrew from the event after his scintillating win in the 100m final on Saturday night, leaving Gout to claim centre stage solo.

“Props to Lachie, I send my regards to him, he ran amazing two runs here, and that pumped me up run to run fast as well,” Gout said.

“He told me it’s all me, so I came out there and did my thing for sure.”

A man celebrates after breaking an Australian record

Gout Gout has smashed his own Australian 200-metre record. (Getty Images: Cameron Spencer)

Gout exploded with unbridled joy after seeing his time, as the frenzied crowd joined the exuberant celebrations. 

He embraced his long-time coach Di Sheppard, and members of his family including his mother, wiping away sweat, perhaps mixed with tears, afterwards. 

It was one of those sporting moments that sucks the air out of everyone watching in the milliseconds afterwards, then explodes into the cathartic ecstasy that comes from witnessing something so extraordinary.  

The hype and expectation on Gout will continue to go to new levels now, as will the continued comparisons with Usain Bolt, but he’s embracing the spotlight.

Sprinter Gout Gout has arms raised in victory

Gout Gout’s next major event will be the Under 20 World Championships later this year. (Getty Images: Cameron Spencer)

“The training’s been working, the training’s been proving to me that I can run fast,” Gout said.

“I guess you could say a big weight off my shoulder knowing that I ran it legally and I have the speed in my body to run times like that.

“It definitely felt like I had a lot more in the tank for sure. And just knowing me, I just kept pushing it and the time shows.

“I’m still only 18, so I definitely think I can go faster for sure.”

Coach Sheppard was stunned afterwards.

“I didn’t expect that, I was hoping for just under 20, but not that,” she told ABC Sport.

“[We] tweaked a couple [of] little things, worked his hands a bit better, just tried to get his turnover better, and it worked.

“We just go back and do what we’ve been doing. We don’t change, because if we did, we wouldn’t get the same results.”

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Incredibly, Adelaide’s Aidan Murphy also ran under 20 seconds, in a time of 19.88 to finish second, while Caleb Law was third in 20.21.

Kennedy told ABC Sport he had some envy watching the hot field from the sidelines. 

“Nuts, are you serious? That was crazy!” he said.

“Huge props to all of them, I’m so happy for them. It’s good for the sport, good for everything, puts more eyes on us.

“I was a little bit dirty not being able to run out there today, would’ve been a lot of fun, probably would’ve got a good time.

“But shout out to all the fellas who ran, it was a cracking race.”

Gout has opted to skip July’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, and his next major outing will be the Under 20 World Championships in the USA in August.