Why Gout Gout's under 10 serving 100m run was deemed illegal

Australian teenage sprinter Gout Gout broke the 10-second barrier in the 100-metre race not once, but twice within two hours at the National Athletics Championships in Perth. The 17-year-old posted an outstanding time of 9.99 seconds in both his heat and the final of the under-20 event.
However, neither performance will be officially recognised due to illegal tailwind conditions. Gout's heat time was aided by a wind reading of 3.5 m/s, while his final run had a tailwind of 2.6 m/s—both above the legal limit of 2.0 m/s for record eligibility.
Despite comfortably winning the championship, Gout's celebration was dampened by the wind readings that flashed on the screen after each race. It was concluded that the tailwinds had assisted him during his sprints. Gout Gout has drawn comparisons with legendary sprinter Usain Bolt and is considered one of the fastest teenagers in the world.

Speaking after the final, Gout said he felt “pretty good” and wasn’t disheartened by the conditions that invalidated his times. “Sometimes it’s frustrating, but you know, you can’t control what you can’t control, and the wind is obviously something you can’t control. You’ve got to learn how to run with it or against it,” he said.
Gout chose to compete in the under-20 category for the 100 metres at this meet, while also participating in the open category for the 200 metres, in which he holds the national record.

He is now only the third Australian to run the 100 metres in under 10 seconds under any conditions, joining the ranks of Patrick Johnson—who ran 9.88 seconds with a 3.6 m/s tailwind in Perth in 2003—and Rohan Browning, who clocked 9.96 seconds in Wollongong in 2021 with a 3.3 m/s wind behind him.

The excitement surrounding Gout’s races drew thousands of spectators to the WA Athletics Stadium on Thursday. Reflecting on the enthusiasm surrounding his performance and its impact on the sport, Gout said:
“This is what Athletics Australia needs. This is what we wake up in the morning for, this is what we train for, and I couldn’t ask for anything better.”
Even without official recognition, Gout Gout’s electrifying performances have made a resounding statement about his future in Australian and international athletics.