Teenage sprint sensation Gout Gout sets sights on Comm Games gold in Glasgow
Teen sprint sensation Gout Gout has set his sights on Commonwealth Games gold, declaring he will compete in next year’s event in Glasgow.
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Victoria blew the chance to see Gout Gout run for gold with the teenage sprint sensation confirming he will line-up at next year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Gout has thrown his support behind the Commonwealth Games, adding another sour note to the Victorian Government’s bungling of the event under former Premier Dan Andrews which resulted in a modified version being resurrected in the Scottish city.
As the 17-year-old’s stardom continues to rise, missing the opportunity to see the next big thing in Australian sport wearing the green and gold is a body blow to Victorian sports lovers.
Gout had initially indicated he would focus on the World Junior Championships next year but after some heavy lobbying from Commonwealth Games broadcaster Channel 7 and a favourable schedule, he will now be able to compete in both events.
The Commonwealth Games begin on July 23 and with the 100m set to be early in the Glasgow schedule, Gout is likely to focus on the blue riband event before flying out to the US for the world juniors in Eugene, Oregon (August 5-9).
Gout is determined to win the world U/20 200m title after being beaten into the silver medal at last year’s championships in Lima, Peru.
The Queensland schoolboy, who is currently completing Year 12 at Ipswich Grammar School, will make his open major championship debut in September when he takes on the world’s fastest men, including Olympic champion Noah Lyles, at the world championships in Tokyo.
To celebrate the year-to-go milestone until Glasgow, Gout’s manager James Templeton confirmed the exciting Commonwealth Games development.
“We need to wait for the full Commonwealth Games program to be released, but yes we are planning that Gout will be available to run an event in Glasgow before going onto the World Juniors in Eugene,” Templeton said.
Legendary commentator Bruce McAvaney, who will be leading the Ch 7 coverage said Australian athletics was at the start of a golden era.
“Gout Gout is arguably the sporting story of a generation. And the prospect of him lining up in Glasgow next year, taking on the best sprinters from the Caribbean, South Africa, Canada and Britain, is just so exciting,” McAvaney said.
Former sprint champion, and Ch 7 Sunrise co-host, Matt Shirvington said the Commonwealth Games was an important stepping stone for young athletes.
“Athletics has always been close to my heart, and with a golden era emerging, it’s even more exciting to see Gout Gout, Nina Kennedy, Lachie Kennedy, Peter Bol, Jess Hull and so many more lighting up the track,” he said.
“It’s athletes like Gout who will make this Commonwealth Games compulsive viewing.”
The Victorian government’s decision in July 2023 to cancel the Commonwealth Games, which were to be held throughout regional Victoria, cost the state over $589 million, with a significant portion of this being a $380 million compensation payment made to Commonwealth Games organisations.
Glasgow, a previous Commonwealth Games host in 2014, took over the gig at the last-minute in October last year amid fears the iconic event would be killed off.
They were forced to cut several traditional sports out of the program, reducing it to 10 with athletics, swimming, netball and track cycling the drawcards.
Chief executive of Glasgow 2026, Phil Batty, said he understood the importance of making the new modified Games a success to guarantee its future.
“There is definitely a sense of responsibility in getting it right,” Batty said. “Having lived through how incredible Birmingham (Commonwealth Games) was in 2022, I think it’s easy to forget we were coming out of a global pandemic then.
“There was a responsibility back then to bring people back together and fill the world with joy again.
“This time you are really focussing on re-imaging this in a way that protects all those brilliant things we know and love about multi-sport events but make it more inclusive for more Commonwealth nations to host it going forward.
“It is a big responsibility.”
Glasgow isn’t building any new infrastructure, instead using existing stadiums, all within a 12km radius, with a new athletics track at Scotstoun Stadium the only major new cost.
There will be 3000 athletes from 74 Commonwealth nations with athletes not housed in a purpose-built village, instead spread throughout the city’s hotels.
Batty said he was happy to take the dropped baton from Victoria and re-energise the event which started back in 1930.
“If we can create a Games that more countries can host, that is the best gift we can give to the Commonwealth,” Batty said.
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