At the recent Maurie Plant Meet in Melbourne, teenage sprint prodigy Gout Gout expressed his frustration after finishing second in the men’s 200m, narrowly losing to Lachlan Kennedy. Kennedy, at 21 years old, achieved a surprising victory in 20.26 seconds, while Gout clocked in at 20.30 seconds, falling short of his own Australian record of 20.04 seconds set at last December’s Australian All Schools Championships.
Despite his disappointment, Gout has garnered significant attention since earning a silver medal at the World Athletics U20 Championships earlier this year. He was the star of the sold-out event at Lakeside Stadium and received a rousing reception from the crowd. Post-race, both athletes shared a congratulatory moment, highlighting the camaraderie within the sport.
Gout’s coach, Di Sheppard, noted that the young athlete felt “angry” after the race but acknowledged that such experiences are vital for his growth. She mentioned the importance of learning to handle competitive pressure, reinforcing the idea that Gout has a promising future ahead.
In the race, Kennedy surged ahead from the start, maintaining his lead as they approached the finish line. Though Gout showcased his trademark strength in the final 100m, he couldn’t quite close the gap, losing by a mere four hundredths of a second. Sheppard mentioned that Gout is still only 17 and is learning how to compete at such a high level.
Reflecting on his performance, Gout shared his determination to use this setback as motivation. He emphasised the importance of the competitive atmosphere, expressing how moments like these fuel his passion for the sport. Gout stressed that he would analyse his performance for future training and look towards improving ahead of upcoming national competitions.
He concluded by stating that experiences like this are integral to his development as an athlete, reiterating his commitment to training harder in preparation for the nationals. Overall, while the outcome may not have been what he hoped for, Gout’s attitude and perspective suggest that he views this race as a stepping stone towards his sporting ambitions.