It was an astonishing moment.

So it was fitting that moment broke a record of a man who was astonishing himself, who made the world sit up and take notice of his stand for human rights.

On Saturday, in a south-eastern suburb of Brisbane, a 16-year-old boy named Gout Gout claimed that famous Australian record.

Running as if wind-propelled at the Australian All Schools Championships, the teenager ran 200 metres in an eye-popping 20.04 seconds.

That time pipped the 56-year-old national 200m record of 20.06 that was set by Peter Norman at the famous 1968 Mexico City Olympics.

In that race, Norman ran second and stood on the dais in support of Tommie Smith and John Carlos as they gave a black-power salute. The photo and Norman’s support for human rights became world famous.

And the young Queenslander Gout, who was born in Brisbane after his parents migrated from South Sudan in 2005, is now also famous.

His name has been up in lights at aged-championship events for the past couple of years, but Saturday’s win — and his scorching victory in the 100m on Friday — means his name is seemingly on everyone’s lips.

His 200m time makes him the fastest 16-year-old in the world over that distance, and the second fastest in global history for an athlete under the age of 18.

And, in an epic comparison, Gout’s 20.04 time nudges the 20.13 set by Olympic icon Usain Bolt when he ran at his under-18s meet in Barbados in 2003.

After Saturday’s race, the ever-smiling teenager revelled in all the hype.

“I’ve been getting pressure. My video went viral right before world juniors,” Gout said. “You know what they say, pressure makes diamonds. I’m better than a diamond right now.”

Before Saturday’s incredible run, Gout already had the under-16, under-18 and under-20 national records in his keeping.

Now that he also has the open standard, greater goals — such as a world-class sub-20 seconds for the 200m and sub-10 seconds for the 100m — are on his mind.

“It’s definitely great. I’ve been chasing that record,” Gout said.

“It’s pretty crazy. Right now I can’t process it, but tonight when I go to bed and think about it, it will be pretty crazy for sure.

“These are adult times and me, just a kid, I’m running them, so it’s definitely going to be a great future for sure.”

Gout had already set stratospheric expectations when he claimed silver at the world under-20s championships in August in a time of 20.60, then lowered his personal best to 20.29 at the Queensland All Schools Championships.

His 10.17 in the 100m final on Friday meant he arrived on Saturday as a five-time national record-holder.

Two years ago, when his times started attracting national attention, his coach Diane Sheppard said he was still learning.

“Six months ago, he looked like one of those things that blow around in car yards. His arms were out of control,” she said. “People are quick to comment saying look how bad his start is, but the kid hasn’t even got full control of his limb length yet!”

He certainly has now. And the world is watching.