Australian sprinter Gout Gout, who has South Sudanese heritage, became a sensation after he broke the country’s under-18 100m national record on 6 December.
With this, the 16-year-old has become the fourth fastest under-18 athlete in history, clocking in at 10.04 seconds at the All-Schools Athletics Championships in Queensland.
On 7 December, he ran the 200m final in 20.04 seconds, setting a new personal record.
Highlights
- Gout Gout has South Sudanese heritage, as both of his parents, Monica and Bona, are originally from South Sudan.
- He was born in Brisbane, Australia after his mother and father migrated from South Sudan in 2005.
- The talented track and field athlete grew up along with his six siblings.
The Australian track and field star broke Peter Norman’s long-standing record by 0.02 seconds, with a +1.5 m/s tailwind (legal).
After the win, the athlete said, “These are adult times, and me, just a kid – I’m running them.”
“It’s going to be a great future for sure. I didn’t expect it to be that fast but I guess I ran Australia’s fastest ever time in the 200. I have been chasing that record but I didn’t think it would come this year. I thought maybe next year or the year after that.”
Gout Gout
As reported by The Guardian, at only 16 years old, Gout is now the second-fastest under-18 sprinter in the 200m, only behind US athlete Erriyon Knighton.
Knighton set the world record of 19.84 seconds as a 17-year-old in 2021. Gout claimed silver at the world under-20 championships with a time of 20.60 seconds.
He later improved his personal best to 20.29 seconds before setting his new record. At 16, he is now the sixth-fastest under-20 sprinter over 200m.
Addressing the viral video of his performance, he said, “My video went viral right before world juniors, and that already created pressure.”
“But you know what they say, pressure makes diamonds and I guess I’m better than a diamond right now. We just take little steps; beat my PB by 0.01 and 0.02. Chasing that big sub-20, it will be great for sure but I’m not expecting too much.”
Gout Gout
Gout Gout’s Parents Migrated From South Sudan To Australia In 2005
Gout was born in Brisbane on 29 December 2007, to Monica and Bona, two years after his parents moved to Australia from South Sudan in 2005.
He is one of seven children, having six siblings. He is the third of seven kids of his parents. While there are not many details about his family, Gout has had a humble beginning.
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
In an interview with Athletics Australia, his coach, Diane Sheppard, said, “My biggest thing with the kids is about being humble, and he has got it in bucket loads.”
Moreover, Gout attended Ipswich Grammar as a full-fee-paying student. His potential as a rugby player was initially noted, but his coach recognized his talent for sprinting.
“Gout came to Ipswich Grammar as a full fee-paying student and they were pushing a rugby kid at me, but I saw him run around and he got right up on his toes. He is a great kid from a great family.”
Diane Sheppard
And Diane Sheppard’s prediction was right. By the age of 14, he was already outpacing top Australian athletes who were two years older than him. At 15, he set the U18 200m record.
On the other hand, Gout also appreciates athletics for its individual nature. “I like that it is personal. The results come down to me,” he said in an interview with the same publication.
Additional Information
- Standing tall at 6 feet and weighing in at an impressive 175 pounds, Gout Gout’s athletic build and physical prowess have made headlines several times.
- His impressive speed has taken social media by storm. He has gained widespread attention even before his debut at the global championships.
- A video of him winning a 100m race in Australia has amassed over 13 million views on Twitter.
- In October 2024, the Australian Sprint sensation signed a professional contract with Adidas. He is one of the youngest athletes to join the global brand.
