At 17, American runner Cooper Lutkenhaus youngest man to win world indoor title

Cooper Lutkenhaus became the youngest athlete to win a men's individual title at the World Athletics Indoor Championships when ‌the 17-year-old American took gold in the 800 metres on Sunday in Torun, Poland.

Lutkenhaus came home ahead ​of Belgium’s Eliott Crestan to ​win in one minute 44.24 seconds. The previous record was held by Ethiopian Mohammed ⁠Aman, who was ‌18 years and 61 days when he won gold in the 800 in 2012.

"I came out here thinking ⁠I probably wasn't the favourite, but any time I feel like I can step into ‌a final I have a chance to win,” said Lutkenhus, who turned professional seven months ago and signed with Nike.

“Maybe it came from confidence or maybe from being too ​young, but I really wanted to try to ⁠make a defining move. I believed in ⁠that on the third lap [and] just ⁠wanted ⁠to try ​to take it from there."

Lutkenhaus's win put the ​United States on ⁠top of the medal table with five gold, with Britain at four for its best haul at the event.

Last September, he was the youngest American ever to compete at outdoor worlds (16 years, eight months) when he raced the heats in Tokyo. Lutkenhaus didn’t advance to the semifinals.

WATCH: 17-year-old Cooper Lutkenhaus