Gout Gout: Stawell Organisers Consider 148-Year First for Australian Sprint Sensation

Gout Gout. Photo. Imago

Gout Gout: Stawell Organisers Consider 148-Year First for Australian Sprint Sensation

Evans Ousuru 13:53 - 18.04.2025

Stawell organisers considering 148-year first for sprint sensation Gout Gout as he gears up for main event.

Stawell Gift officials are reportedly seriously considering breaking 148 years of tradition at this year’s iconic grass race by placing crash bags after the finishing gates to cater for teen phenom Gout Gout.

The 110m race always draws a bumper crowd and that number is expected to be exponentially larger when Gout takes to the iconic Central Park track this Easter long weekend according to Daily Mail.

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However, with Gout known for a legendary late burst, similar to that of sprint king Usain Bolt, Stawell Gift organisers are looking at adding increased safety measures due to the finish area being tight, particularly for the backmarkers who are on the inside lane.

Both Gout and fellow boom Aussie sprinter Lachlan Kennedy will be in those inside lanes due to their sizzling times in 2025. And with a wire fence just metres from the finishing gates, officials are seriously considering using crash bags and other added safety measures at this year’s event.

Crash bags are used at the world indoor championships for 60m events due to the short stopping distance after the finish line.

Gout Gout's Achievements

Gout Gout: Stawell Organisers Consider 148-Year First for Australian Sprint Sensation
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Gout Gout represented Australia at the 2024 World Athletics U20 Championships in Lima, Peru, where he won the silver medal in the 200m in a personal best time of 20.60 seconds.

At the 2024 Australian All Schools Athletics Championship December, he ran a personal best time of 10.04 seconds in the 100m to win his heat. This time was the fourth-fastest U18 time in the world and the fifth-fastest all-time 100m run by an Australian.

He backed this up by winning the final in 10.17 seconds, breaking the Australian U18 record, which had been held by Australia’s reigning men’s senior champion Sebastian Sultana.

The next day, in the 200 m final, Gout ran 20.04 seconds. This time ranked as the second-fastest U18 performance of all time (behind only Erriyon Knighton) and made Gout only the second U18 athlete to surpass Usain Bolt's record in this category. 

Gout Gout in 2025

Gout Gout: Stawell Organisers Consider 148-Year First for Australian Sprint Sensation
Gout Gout reacts after winning the U18 100M title at the Australian Schools Championships. Photo. Imago

Gout Gout has started 2025 on a high note. He finished runner-up to compatriot Lachlan Kennedy in the 200m race at the Maurie Plant Meet in Melbourne on March 29.

On April 13, he won the 200m race at the Australian Athletics Championships in a wind-assisted 19.84 seconds (+2.2 m/s) in Perth.