Teen sprint sensation Gout Gout set to light up Australia’s richest foot race.
Often when a sprinter of Gout Gout’s caliber enters a race the only question is how fast they will go, not whether they will win.
But at the legendary Stawell Gift, Australia’s most famous foot race, things work a little differently.
The 17-year-old sprint prodigy has agreed, in principle, to run in the historic 120m dash on grass this Easter Monday, setting up what could be one of the most intriguing races in the event’s 143-year history.
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The Stawell Gift is not your typical elite sprint race. It is a handicapped event, meaning that runners are given staggered starting marks based on their previous performances.The better you are, the harder it is to win.
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And Gout, the hottest name in Australian athletics, is undoubtedly very good. With a blistering 10.04-second 100m time and a national 200m record to his name, the schoolboy star will not be given any favors when the handicaps are set as per The Age.com.
Can Gout defy the odds and etch his name into Stawell folklore? Or will the handicap system prove too great a hurdle for Australia’s next big thing?
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The hottest property in Australian athletics
If you have not yet heard the name Gout Gout, that is about to change.
The 17-year-old sensation has rapidly become one of the most sought-after young sprinters in the world. His rise to stardom reached new heights last year when he clocked a time at the World Junior Championships that was faster than Usain Bolt’s at the same age.
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Then, in December, he stunned again by running 10.04 seconds over 100m – the fastest ever by an Australian schoolboy.
Gout is not just fast. H e is also marketable. With his electrifying speed, natural charisma, and connections to the biggest names in the sport – including a recent training camp with 100m and 200m world champion Noah Lyles in Florida – he has all the makings of a global superstar.
Despite his rising fame, Gout remains grounded. Balancing Year 12 studies with his intense training schedule, he is proving that he has not just the talent, but the discipline and work ethic to succeed at the highest level.
His decision to race at Stawell, just one week after the national championships in Perth, is a fascinating one. It shows he’s not just chasing traditional glory – he’s willing to embrace the unpredictability and history of an event that has humbled some of the greatest sprinters of all time.
Can he overcome the handicap?
While Gout will undoubtedly be the biggest drawcard at Stawell, his chances of actually winning the race are far from certain.
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The Gift’s handicapping system has seen world-class athletes struggle in the past. Even legends like former 100m world champion Asafa Powell (2013) and Kim Collins (2011) couldn’t conquer the unique challenge. The last time a runner won the Gift from scratch – meaning they had no handicap advantage at all – was Josh Ross in 2005.
With Gout’s world-class credentials, he is unlikely to be given much, if any, of a head start. That means he’ll have to chase down a field of talented sprinters, many of whom will have significant advantages in terms of starting distance.
One of the most famous moments in Stawell Gift history came in the mid-90s, when Cathy Freeman stormed from behind to win the 400m race despite competitors starting up to 50m ahead of her. If Gout wants to win, he will likely need to pull off something just as extraordinary.
