Teenage sprinting talent Gout Gout’s highly anticipated participation in Melbourne’s Maurie Plant Meet has led to a significant milestone in Australian athletics: the first sell-out of a one-day athletics event in over 24 years. The event, set to take place at Lakeside Stadium, will welcome a full crowd of 10,000, marking a return to popularity for the sport, reminiscent of the surge in attendance following the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Australian Athletics (AA) confirmed the sell-out announcement, expressing excitement about the event’s appeal to fans and the potential for athletes. The Maurie Plant Meet highlights rising stars in the sport, including Gout Gout, who will compete in the 200m event named after the Olympic hero Peter Norman. The 19-year-old sprinter has made headlines for his extraordinary performances, notably breaking the Australian open record with a time of 20.04 seconds last December, previously held by Norman. Recently, Gout became the first Australian to complete the 200m in under 20 seconds, clocking 19.98 seconds, albeit with questionable wind conditions aiding his speed.
Gout’s prowess has garnered attention worldwide, even drawing comparisons to Usain Bolt, who remarked that the young athlete resembles his former self. His remarkable journey includes a lucrative eight-year, $6 million annual sponsorship deal with Adidas, illustrating his potential to become a major force in athletics. Simon Hollingsworth, CEO of AA, noted that the event underscores the sport’s revitalisation and its capacity to attract audiences once more, with a growing number of athletes competing at elite levels.
Competing against Gout will be notable sprinters, including Lachlan Kennedy, who secured a silver medal in the 60m at the recent World Athletics Indoor Championships in China. Kennedy’s ambition is to break into the elite sub-10-second club for the 100m, a feat achieved by only one other Australian in history.
The Maurie Plant Meet will also feature a plethora of emerging talents, such as 18-year-old middle-distance runner Cameron Myers, along with the 15-year-old New Zealander Sam Ruthe, who made global headlines as the youngest athlete to run a sub-four-minute mile. The event promises a thrilling atmosphere, with high-jumper Eleanor Patterson also among the stars, fresh from her silver medal at the world indoor championships.
In summary, the Maurie Plant Meet not only showcases the tremendous talent within Australian athletics but also signifies a resurgence of interest in the sport, positioned to draw more fans and elevate the profiles of its athletes.