Wealthy Australians Planning Big-Money Offer to Noah Lyles or Sha’Carri Richardson to Steal Spotlight from Gout Gout

Gout Gout could share the spotlight with either Noah Lyles or Sha'Carri Richardson at Stawell Gift next year. Photos: Imago

Wealthy Australians Planning Big-Money Offer to Noah Lyles or Sha’Carri Richardson to Steal Spotlight from Gout Gout

Joel Omotto 03:28 - 08.05.2025

Some monied Australians are weighing up a big money offer to either Noah Lyles or Sha’Carri Richardson to grace a top event next year and share the stage with Gout Gout.

Noah Lyles or Sha’Carri Richardson could be heading to Australia for one of the most popular events next year if plans by some wealthy businessmen in the country succeed.

Australia just had the 143rd edition of the annual Stawell Gift in April where teen sprint star Gout Gout was the main attraction but the Victorian Athletic League, who organizes the event, are already planning for next year.

The popular athletics events, Australia’s oldest and richest, draws huge numbers but it has not had an international superstar in over a decade but some wealthy locals are planning an audacious bid to lure one of Lyles or Richardson to add glamour alongside fast-rising Gout Gout.

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"There are a couple of people angling in that space ... There are a few influential people that have some backing that suggested they're going to try to see what they can do. There's plenty of people around with money to support that," Victorian Athletics League president Matt McDonough told Wide World of Sports.

"Someone might say, 'Look, we can spend half a million to get Noah Lyles', and he might not come for that.

"Who knows? By the time we get to next year Gout could be just as big as Noah Lyles. So, are we better off just spending a bit more money to ensure Gout comes back, rather than getting Noah Lyles?"

Having one of the two Americans would definitely steal the spotlight from Australian wonderkid Gout Gout, who was paid an appearance fee of $50,000 to grace this year’s event, although he was eliminated at the semi-final.

However, organizers would not mind a star name at the event with Jamaican legend Asafa Powell among overseas stars who have previously ran at Stawell Gift.

"Stawell hasn't had the big international star for a long time ... We haven't had that for 10-15 years," added McDonough.

"We'd be interested, the VAL, and I'm sure Stawell would. We would be super excited to have any of the international superstars come along, like one of those big-name Americans, to take on Gout."

This year’s event saw star attractions Gout Gout and fellow Queensland native Lachlan Kennedy eliminated at the semi-final.