Gout Gout Overcomes Illness to Win 100m Title in Challenging Conditions: 'I Was Bedridden'

Teenage sprinting sensation Gout Gout defied illness to be crowned the Queensland under-20 100m champion on Saturday, despite being "bedridden" just a day before the race.

The 18-year-old, who recently became the third-fastest man in Australian history, competed at the Queensland Athletics Championships amidst challenging, blustery weather on Australia's east coast.

In the heats, Gout Gout clocked a time of 10.28 seconds, aided by an illegal tailwind (+2.3m/s). He improved in the final at the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre (QSAC), winning the title with a time of 10.20 seconds ahead of Callan Jensen. While a victory, the time was well off his personal best of 10.00 seconds, set in February.

PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Google News, Stay informed with Latest Sport News

Speaking after the race, the world under-20 200m silver medallist revealed the extent of his physical struggles in the lead-up to the event.

"Yeah, I was bedridden (on Friday)," he told Code Sports. "I am feeling a bit better, I still have got congestion in my throat, but it’s alright, at the end of the day I still have to go out there and run."

A report from The Sydney Morning Herald noted that Gout Gout was still "very blocked up from the sinusitis he has been struggling with" as he discussed his performance. Despite the setback, the young athlete remained positive.

"I feel pretty good, it’s good to get a run under my belt," he pointed out. "I come out here and do what I do."

This victory follows a historic performance in February, where Gout recorded the joint-fastest legal 100m by an Australian on home soil.

His time of 10.00 seconds (+0.9) at a Queensland club meet shattered the previous under-20 Australian record of 10.15, held by Jake Doran since 2018.

That remarkable run placed Gout Gout third on Australia's all-time senior list, behind only Patrick Johnson and Lachlan Kennedy.

It also served as his first qualifying performance for the 2026 World Athletics Under-20 Championships, scheduled to take place in Oregon from August 5–9 this year.