The star continues to rise for Gout Gout, with the 17-year-old sprinter lighting up the track on the opening day of the Open and U20 events at the Australian Championships in Perth, becoming just the third Australian in history to run under 10 seconds — not once, but twice in a single day.
Photos courtesy of Australian Athletics
The Queenslander stopped the clock at 9.99 (+3.5) in the heats of the Under 20 Men’s 100m before backing it up with another 9.99 (+2.6) in the final — both wind-assisted but equally electrifying.
Until now, only Patrick Johnson (legal) and Rohan Browning (wind-assisted) had achieved the elusive sub-10 status. Gout’s name now enters that exclusive conversation, albeit with the breeze on his side, marking yet another breakthrough moment.
“This definitely boosts my confidence levels,” Gout said. “Sub-10 is what every sprinter hopes for and to get it so early this year is definitely great. It also boosts my confidence for the main event for me, like the 200m.”
That main event is still to come in Perth, where Gout will line up in the Open Men’s 200m against Lachlan Kennedy — setting the stage for one of the most anticipated matchups of the meet.
Buoyed by a vocal WA crowd, Gout soaked in every moment.
“It’s definitely great. I feel like this is what Australia needs. This is what we wake up in the morning for, what we train for. I couldn’t ask for anything better — just the crowds and everyone getting around it is definitely great.”
With the 200m clash on the horizon, the Gout Gout show is only just getting started.
In other action on the opening day:
- Reece Langdon (T38, 3:46.83 1500m) and Vanessa Low (T61, 5.71m long jump) set para world records
- Olympian Tori West leads the heptathlon in 3616 points
- Desleigh Owusu leapt to a new personal best of 13.74m in the qualifying rounds of the triple jump
- All of the usual suspects progressed to the finals of the 1500m – Cameron Myers, Adam Spencer, Olli Hoare and Jude Thomas in the men’s; and Jess Hull, Georgia Griffith, Linden Hall and Sarah Billings in the women’s. Abbey Caldwell was a notable scratching from the initial start-lists, focusing on the 800m at this meet.
