I’m Arnie’s dad. This is the incredible ride ahead of Gout’s family

My family’s life changed forever the day Ariarne became the fastest Australian woman in the pool over 200 metres. That day just came for Gout Gout’s loved ones, writes Steve Titmus.

I remember so well when my daughter Ariarne became the fastest Australian woman in the pool over 200 metres.

It was at the 2018 Australian swimming trials for the Commonwealth Games.

It was late afternoon on the Gold Coast. The sun was out and a slight breeze eased the heat and sweaty palms.

That day changed our lives. Swimming all of a sudden became serious - very serious.

From then on, our little girl who grew up in Tasmania and whose talent had seen us move as a family to Brisbane two years earlier had all of a sudden put the world on notice.

It meant her every move would now be watched, particularly from our traditional swimming rivals, the United States.

Ariarne Titmus at her first swimming lesson with her father Steve in Tasmania.

Fast forward seven years to now and Arnie is a three-time individual Olympic champion, a legend of middle distance swimming.

But those memories from 2018 came back to me last Sunday when I was in Nathan, a suburb south of the Brisbane CBD at the Queensland Athletics Championships.

The field for the final of the Men’s Under-20 200 metres was called to the starting blocks.

The silence was suddenly deafening, a couple of gum leaves slowly rolled across the ground as we all felt anticipation that hadn’t been felt in decades on an Australian athletics track.

In under 20 seconds, those present would witness another step towards the potential for greatness.

Fellow competitors, mums, dads, grandparents, guardians, fans - and the doyen of sports commentating Bruce McAvaney - sat in the normally sparsely populated grandstand at QSAC with their hearts in their mouths.

The gun was fired.

Ariarne Titmus with parents Steve and Robin and sister Mia after the 2021 Olympics. PICTURE: Brad Fleet

There was a roar, not dissimilar to what you hear at the start of the Melbourne Cup.

It was all for a 17-year-old lanky marvel named Gout Gout, born and raised in Queensland to South Sudanese parents, who was in a red lycra suit - and was off and racing.

This wasn’t a case of whether he would win, but how fast would he go – this was a joust with a ticking stopwatch.

The commentator roared, 80, 70, 60, 50, 40, 30, 20, 10 there was nothing more to say, just caught up in the moment.

Gout Gout, barely scraped the ground with his incredible stride, more like a racing ballerina on his toes, stopping the clock at 19.98. But was it legal?

The commentator could finally break into poetry, ladies and gentleman you can now say you were here.

Gout Gout, became the first Australian to break 20-seconds over 200-metres.

An illegal tail wind, which in truth barely tickled the surrounding gum trees, won’t let his time stand, but earlier, his 20.05 in the qualifiers, made him the fastest man in the world this year.

Gout Gout poses with the clock after winning the Men 200m Under 20 Finals during the Queensland Athletics Championships at Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

As Arnie’s proud dad, the moment gave me goosebumps.

I punched the air and had a small shiver. With instinct I spun around to see the reaction of Gout Gout’s family and friends.

We had just witnessed not just a running race.

This wasn’t just a moment for Gout Gout, this was a family moment.

I hope Gout Gout’s family realise how big Sunday, March 16, 2025 will be in their journey.

Soon everyone will want to know who is his family, what does he eat for breakfast, why does he run so fast, how fast can he go, will he be the greatest and win Olympic gold?

The scrutiny has just begun, but so too has an incredible journey for Gout’s family.

Their love for him is tangible, and they are humble - you can see that in the stands.

Just like with the swimming families, who have worn a path to the Olympics time after time, it’s not making sacrifices, but making the right choices in life and daring to dream.

Gout Gout crosses the finish line on Sunday, changing his and his family’s life forever. (Photo by Patrick HAMILTON / AFP)

But just like we had to front the cameras and tell the world our story after that day in 2018, so too will the Gouts - as their 17-year-old son is admired and cheered navigating the world with all its praise and criticism not just on the competition days, but out of season and over many years.

I wish them well, they are on an incredible and rewarding journey, that at times may seem overwhelming, but in the end is worth every tenth of a second.

Why? Because very few families, a minuscule percentage of the population, get the chance to travel on a journey from the suburbs to the biggest stage of all, the Olympics. It is one heck of a ride.

My family can’t wait to see Gout Gout and his family on their journey unfolding before us, just like we rode every stride and emotion with Cathy Freeman.

Go Gout Gout! You are one very gifted young man and your family are blessed.

All the best, and I will always remember that I was there that day when your journey well and truly started capturing the imagination of a nation.