COSMOS MAGAZINE
Seventeen-year-old sprint sensation Gout Gout is turning heads not just with his speed, but also with biomechanical analysis showing his body moves like the world’s best athletes.
Credit: Getty
Gout clocked in at 19.84 seconds to win the men’s 200m final at the Australian Athletics Championships in Perth this month.
The effort would have secured him a new record, but for an illegal wind speed of 2.2m per second.
According to Flinders University analysis, Gout’s step length during his recent 200m final matched Usain Bolt’s peak stride from his 2009 world-record 100m run.
Credit: Getty
Movement scientist Dr Dylan Hicks noted Gout’s average step length in the final 100m was an impressive 2.69m, with a peak of 2.86m — equal to Bolt’s maximum stride.
Credit: Getty
Gout's sprinting efficiency comes from his ability to store and release energy through his muscle-Achilles tendon system, allowing him to generate powerful strides with less effort.
Combined with improved starting speed and exceptional coordination, this rare biomechanical advantage could make Gout Gout one of the most efficient sprinters the world has ever seen.