Hundreds of Syrian refugees gathered at Turkey’s southern border crossings on Monday, preparing to return home in the wake of Bashar al-Assad’s government collapse. The movement, which comes amid plans for increased border access, signals hope for stability in war-torn Syria.

At the Cilvegozu and Oncupinar crossings, corresponding to Bab al-Hawa and Bab al-Salameh gates on the Syrian side, refugees arrived with belongings packed into suitcases and sacks. Many braved the cold overnight, camping near the gates as they waited to cross.

Muhammed Zin, 28, who fled Damascus in 2016, expressed relief and optimism. “Assad was shooting us, killing us. I will return to Syria now. Thank God, the war is over,” he told the Associated Press.

The fall of Assad has sparked celebrations among the 3 million Syrian refugees living in Turkey, some of whom replaced the Syrian Consulate’s flag with that of the opposition. Mustafa Sultan, 29, prepared to cross the border to reunite with his older brother, imprisoned under Assad’s rule. “I haven’t seen him for 13 years. The prisons have been emptied, so I am going to see whether he’s alive,” he said.

To ease the crowding, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced plans to open a third border crossing. He predicted that improved stability in Syria would lead to more voluntary returns.

“As Syria gains more stability, God willing, voluntary, safe, and honourable returns will increase,” Erdoğan stated. Turkey, which accepted hundreds of thousands of refugees at the start of Syria’s civil war in 2011, has faced growing domestic pressure to address the refugee crisis amid economic challenges. Erdoğan’s government has emphasized creating conditions for the safe and voluntary return of Syrians.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan reaffirmed this commitment, saying, “We will continue our efforts to ensure the safe and voluntary return of Syrians and to rebuild the country.”

At Cilvegozu, only refugees with proper documentation were allowed to proceed. Zakariya Mori al-Shami, 31, who arrived in Turkey in 2019, was among those awaiting passage with his family. He plans to rebuild his home in Aleppo, destroyed during the conflict.

Sami Abdel-Latif, a construction worker from Hama, expressed hope for a new beginning as he prepared to reunite with his family. “Anything is better than Bashar,” he said.

For others, the return symbolizes freedom and renewal. Malak Matar, heading to Damascus, described the moment as transformative. “You feel yourself psychologically free — you can express yourself,” he said. “It’s a new phase. Syrians have to create a state that is well-organized and takes care of their country.”

Sixteen-year-old sprinting prodigy Gout Gout has etched his name into Australian athletics history, breaking Peter Norman’s 56-year-old national 200m record. Gout clocked an astonishing 20.04 seconds at the All-Schools Championships in Brisbane on Saturday, surpassing Norman’s mark of 20.06 seconds, set at the 1968 Olympics.

Norman’s record, the longest-standing in Australian athletics, had seemed untouchable for decades. However, Gout’s breathtaking performance not only set a new national standard but also established him as the fastest 16-year-old ever over the 200m distance and earned him the Oceania record, according to World Athletics.

A Record-Breaking Moment

The 200m final saw a tight contest coming off the bend, but Gout’s explosive top speed in the straight left his competitors trailing. Reflecting on his achievement, Gout expressed surprise at his record-breaking run.

“These are adult times, and me, just a kid – I’m running them. It’s going to be a great future for sure,” Gout said, as quoted by Athletics Australia. “I’ve been chasing that record but didn’t think it would come this year. Maybe next year or the year after.”

The sprinting sensation also holds the fourth-fastest under-18 100m time in history and is now the second-fastest under-18 runner in the 200m globally.

A Rising Star

Gout first gained attention in 2022, running the 100m in 10.57 seconds as a 14-year-old. Earlier this year, he clocked 20.60 seconds at the World Athletics U20 Championships, a mark faster than a 15-year-old Usain Bolt managed in 2002.

Despite the growing spotlight and comparisons to sprinting legends, Gout remains focused. “Pressure makes diamonds,” he said. “We just take little steps… chasing that big sub-20 will be great, but I’m not expecting too much.”

The Legacy of Peter Norman

Norman’s historic run in 1968 earned him a silver medal at the Mexico City Olympics. However, the race is remembered for the iconic Black Power salute by gold and bronze medalists Tommie Smith and John Carlos on the podium, a protest against racial injustice in the United States.

In solidarity, Norman wore a badge supporting the Olympic Project for Human Rights, a gesture that underscored his commitment to equality.

Gout’s achievement closes a remarkable chapter in Australian athletics while opening a new one. At just 16, the young sprinter’s potential appears limitless, with his sights set on breaking the elusive 20-second barrier and carving his own legacy in the sport.