The rise of Ipswich Grammar School student and Aussie sprint star Gout Gout
In a fascinating interview, the parents of Queensland’s global track and field sprint sensation Gout Gout have opened up about what drives their “very sweet boy’’, and how he’d planned a very different sporting path to follow.
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The parents of Ipswich Grammar School track and field sprint sensation Gout Gout have described how their “very sweet boy’’ who is now the talk of world athletics grew up admiring football ace Cristiano Ronaldo and aspired to play soccer.
Year 11 student Gout Gout, Australia’s most exciting 200m sprint athlete this century, returned to IGS this week after continuing to shadow the junior times of the legendary Usain Bolt on his way to winning a silver medal at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Lima.
Gout Gout, born in Ipswich and raised by parents of South Sudan descent, set a new Australian under-20 record (20.60 seconds) at the championships - but his first love was football.
“As parents, we are very proud of Gout and love to see him chasing his dreams,’’ Monica and Bona Gout said.
“From a young age, we saw him running around in the backyard, challenging other kids with his skills.
“He loved playing soccer, loved running, and always admired Cristiano Ronaldo.
“He is a very sweet boy, talented, a wonderful sibling, and always pushes himself to achieve his goals.’’
Gout Gout’s parents said they had been surprised by the success of their son since he started concentrating on athletics in 2020-21.
“His success has surprised us in many ways, we didn’t expect so many people to notice his wonderful achievements,’’ they said.
“We are so impressed and proud of our boy.’’
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.’’
In particular, they said IGS track and field coach Diane Sheppard had played a huge part in their son’s development.
“We are especially grateful to Di Sheppard who has always pushed our son to do his best,’’ Monica and Bona said.
“She has a special place in her heart for him and other athletes in the club.
“Her open arms and constant encouragement have been invaluable, and you can see the love in her eyes.
“She has always seen great potential in him, and we appreciate her so much.
“We also want to thank everyone in the Ipswich Grammar community for embracing him with open hearts.
“Ipswich Grammar is a wonderful school that can take your child to great places, and we couldn’t have done it without them.’’
IGS Acting Headmaster Tony Dosen said when Gout Gout’s parents chose to enrol him at Ipswich Grammar School in Year 7, “they had one clear goal in mind - to provide their son with the best possible educational opportunities’’.
“The decision quickly proved to be a wise one, as Gout began to excel both in the classroom and on the field, demonstrating an impressive commitment to his education and his athletic pursuits.
“Although Gout was passionate about football, his athletic ability, though raw at first, quickly became apparent and he thrived through the school’s track and field. His progress is a testament to his hard work and determination, and we are proud to have been a part of his journey.
“At Ipswich Grammar School, our focus is on providing a well-rounded and balanced education that allows each boy to find and pursue their passion. The achievements of students like Gout highlight the importance of this approach. We are grateful for the opportunity to support young people as they discover their strengths and strive to reach their potential, both in the classroom and on the field.
So when did Gout Gout’s career start to take off?
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 Lynten Johnson in the U13 200m.
Then Gout Gout burst into the national spotlight at the 2022 Australian All School Championships when he ran a then under-16 Australian 200m record of 21.14 seconds.
Then last year at the Australian Junior Championships, the then 15-year-old broke the national under-18 years 200m record when he ran 20.87 seconds - into a headwind.
That time sliced .03 off a record previously held by Darren Clark, Paul Greene and Zane Branco.
Two-time Olympian Clarke was 17 when he set the old record, while Green was aged 16.
Earlier this year he lowered the 200m time even further with a 20.69 burst.
FAST FACTS
Where Gout Gout stands compared to the great Usain Bolt
+ Gout Gout’s silver medal performance at the world juniors over the weekend set a New Australian junior 200m record (20.60 seconds), smashing a previous PB by .09 seconds;
+ his time was 0.01 seconds faster than Usain Bolt’s 2002, 200m world under-20 championship time when Bolt was aged 15;
+ By age 16, Usain Bolt then ran a junior record 20.13 seconds for the 200m, and by age 17 Bolt had lowered the record mark to 19.93sec. Bolt was the first teenager to break 20 seconds for the 200m.
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