A star rises from Ipswich Grammar—faster than anyone could have imagined. Sixteen-year-old sprinter Gout Gout has made waves once more, both nationally and internationally.
His record-breaking performances in the All-Schools Athletics Championships have electrified the school, the community, and sports enthusiasts across the country.
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A star is born
Born to South Sudanese parents, Monica and Bona, who moved to Australia in 2006, Gout has quickly become a name synonymous with speed and determination. From training at local Brisbane tracks to capturing national headlines, his journey has been meteoric. At just 16, Gout is not only breaking records but also proving that Ipswich Grammar is home to Australia’s next great athletic talent.
Gout shatters records in the All-Schools Athletics Championships
SORRY WHAT?!👂 10.04? 👀
Teenage sensation Gout Gout gets the crowd roaring with a spectacular though windy 10.04 (+3.4) performance in his U18 100m Heat – the fourth fastest time in all conditions by an Australian in history.
Stay tuned for the final at 3:40pm AEST. Tune in… pic.twitter.com/UbXfzH5mj6— Athletics Australia (@AthsAust) December 6, 2024
Gout’s rise reached new heights at the national All-Schools Athletics Championships in Queensland. Representing Ipswich Grammar, he ran an astonishing 10.04 seconds in the 100m heat. Though an illegal tailwind rendered the time unofficial, it signalled his raw potential. Gout didn’t disappoint in the final, clocking a legal 10.17 seconds—securing his place as one of the fastest under-18 sprinters in history.
The highlight of the championship, however, came in the 200m event. The teenage sensation smashed Peter Norman’s 56-year-old national record with a blistering time of 20.04 seconds. Norman’s record, set at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, had stood as an untouchable benchmark for generations. Gout’s historic run cemented his status as Australia’s most exciting young sprinter.
GOUT OF THIS WORLD 🌏🌏
— Athletics Australia (@AthsAust) December 7, 2024
In 20.04-seconds, 16-year-old Gout Gout has sprinted into athletics history as Australia's fastest ever man over 200m, taking down Peter Norman’s Australian record of 20.06 from the 1968 Olympic Games.
20.04 (+1.5). The oldest record in the books is… pic.twitter.com/wVpPSebbAp
For the Queenslander, the records are just the beginning. With ambitions to train with world-class sprinters like Noah Lyles under the guidance of coach Lance Brauman, he has his sights set on the global stage.
Gout credits much of his success to his coach, Diane Sheppard, who has been his mentor since he was discovered at Ipswich Grammar in Year 7. “She basically told me I could be great, and that was the first time anyone ever told me something like that,” he explained. “It’s been a fantastic relationship with Di since.”
About to turn 17 this December, his achievements aren’t just remarkable for his age—they’re globally competitive. His time of 20.04 seconds in the 200m makes him the second-fastest under-18 sprinter in history, trailing only U.S. star Erriyon Knighton. Beyond his lightning speed, his humility and dedication make him a role model for young athletes at Ipswich Grammar and beyond.
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“I’ve been chasing this national record for a while now,” Gout shared after his historic run. “In the heat, I thought I got it, but it was a crazy tailwind, so I just did the same thing and got the job done.”
“These are adult times and me, just a kid—I’m running them,” he said. “It’s going to be a great future for sure.”
Published 12-December-2024
