Ipswich Grammar School student Gout Gout lauds coach and community

In one of the first interviews of his already mind-blowing career, Queensland teen sprint sensation Gout Gout reveals exactly what has spurred him on the track to becoming Australia’s fastest man – and possible greatness.

Australian sprint sensation Gout Gout has revealed how four words uttered by his coach has helped send him on a record breaking run.

Gout Gout, 16, an Ipswich Grammar School 100m and 200m runner of world renown, said his coach Diane Sheppard had been an amazing mentor on and off the field since he was first discovered at the college as a Year 7 student.

HOW GOUT GOUT ASPIRED TO BE LIKE CRISTIANO RONALDO

“She basically told me I could be great and that is the first time anyone ever told me something like that,’’ Gout Gout said.

“It has been a great relationship with Di since Year 7.

“It started off with a bang. She trained me and helped me to become a better person and a better athlete up until this point and onwards.

“So I could not ask for a better coach.’’ ,’’ Gout Gout said of Sheppard, a 2016 Ipswich City Sporting Coach of the Year winner who has been an IGS track coach since 2003.

WATCH GOUT GOUT’S ALL SCHOOL’S 100M DASH HERE

WATCH GOUT GOUT’S ALL SCHOOL’S 200M RUN HERE

Last weekend at the All Schools Queensland Track and Field championships, Gout Gout became the fifth fastest Australian to run a 200m when he ran 20.29 seconds.

IGS Year 11 student Gout Gout at the Queensland All Schools track and field championships at QSAC. Picture, John Gass

That time was within sight of the great Usain Bolt’s 16 years world record (20.13 seconds), and also within touching distance of Peter Norman’s all-time Australian record of 20.06. Gout also ran a 100m championship record time of 10.31 seconds.

While Gout Gout was not surprised by his two recent record breaking times, he admits the start of his magic carpet ride at the under-20 World Athletics Championships in August, when he won a silver medal, did catch him on the hop.

With a relaxed demeanour his mates know so well helping deflect pressure away, Gout Gout went into the championships as just another promising athlete – but popped out the other side with headlines screaming his name.

“Running at the worlds, that (silver medal) was a surprise because coming into it I was 10th or 11th in the world.’’ Gout said.

“And coming away with a silver medal was crazy and I can’t process it yet. So that was a surprise.’’

Ipswich Grammar School student Gout Gout at the Queensland All Schools track and field championships. Picture, John Gass

Gout Gout, who once aspired to follow in the steps of football ace Cristiano Ronaldo, said his performance at the juniors world title two months ago had given him a foundation for success and he knew he was hovering around more best times entering last weekend’s All Schools Championship.

“So it was about focusing on my plan and executing my plan,’’ he said.

The son of South Sudan couple Monica and Bona, Gout Gout, the Ipswich born and raised sprinter, is a grounded young man who does not take his success for granted.

When he wins he will exhibit overflowing emotion as he lets off steam celebrating his success after spending hours, weeks and months preparing for that 10 or 20 second burst of raw athletic power.

However, Gout Gout is tremendously respectful of his fellow competitors whom, after each event, he seeks out and sends on their way with a hug and a handshake.

At the recent GPS track and field championships, when he defeated Churchie 400m champion and Australian under-18 representative Adam Beiers in a dramatic final, Gout Gout showed affection for his beaten foe by bending down and spending a minute undoing Beiers’ shoe laces. It was a mark of respect for Beiers from Gout.

Everyone gets a Gout Gout handshake and hug after events. Picture, John Gass

Gout Gout also loves his school community. After breaking four GPS championship records last month in helping IGS to win the coveted title, he said: “I have been at Ipswich Grammar since Year 7 and we (his teammates) love the school getting around us. I love the community and everything the school brings. And you couldn’t ask for a better school.’’

Gout’s parents Monica and Bona said the Ipswich Grammar School community had “definitely helped him, providing helping hands all around’’.

“What Gout has achieved, and where he is today, couldn’t have happened without the support of this community.’’

Gout Gout as a Year 8 student in 2021, winning the GPS track and field 200m championship in his age group.

In 2020 Gout Gout made a huge impression at his first ever track and field meet for IGS when he broke the 20-year-old IGS record set by Junior Sau in the under-13 100m, and also the 37-year-old record set by decorated international sprinter Lynten Johnson in the under-13 200m.