Gout Gout rival Bailey Roberts-Lintmeijer’s goal to be fastest man in Rugby Sevens after big news
He’s raced against Australian teen sensation Gout Gout but this young gun wants to be the fastest man in the world on a different field of play but potentially at the same Olympics as his old rival
He’s raced against Australian track star Gout Gout and shares the same dream of being the fastest man in the world - just on a very different field of play.
Sydney teenager Bailey Roberts-Lintmeijer, racing Gout Gout when he smashed the Australian All Schools record and owning an astonishing PB after a growth spurt last year, won’t be playing second fiddle to Gout Gout any time soon with the 18-year-old more interested in realising a footy dream than one in athletics.
But a goal of one day being the fastest man in Rugby Sevens could see him competing at the same Olympic Games in the future as Gout Gout, one of the most exciting track stars to emerge from Australia in recent history and with a 10.17 best for the 100m and 20.02 for the 200m.
A Newington college graduate, Petersham local and associated with the Zetland Magpies and La Perouse junior league clubs and Rockdale Rangers rugby, Roberts-Lintmeijer has put his track and field days behind him in recent times to play rugby league alongside the NRL stars of the future and rugby with its rising stars.
His dedication to rugby is now paying off with Roberts-Lintmeijer on a fast track to success with an Australian Rugby Sevens squad scholarship while still in his teens.
‘My first goal is to try and debut for Australia in the coming months,’’ said Roberts-Lintmeijer, who played Harold Matthews for the Sydney Roosters last year, Rugby Sevens at the Global youth championships in New Zealand last year and who owns an impressive 10.66 PB over 100m.
This time is faster than rugby league gun Jason Saab’s much heralded 10.8 in his debut at a recent Sydney athletics meet which had many proclaiming him the fastest man in the NRL.
“It's definitely my goal, to be the fastest in rugby sevens, it would be pretty cool,’’ said Roberts-Lintmeijer, whose bid this year for the GPS 100m record of 10.58 - owned by Manly NRL player Tolutau Koula, a teammate of Saab - was thwarted by a hamstring injury.
“It would be awesome to have that label. That name on my back.
“I was never really into athletics. It has alway been footy for me,’’
“I started running fast last year. I had a growth spurt and spent time in the gym.
“I just got stronger and never really expected to run a 10.6. I was just running with no pressure on me.
Roberts-Lintmeijer has inherited his speed from his mother, Allison, a former Australian surf life saving beach sprint champion in the late 90s in Sydney, with his love of football coming from his father Duane Roberts, a former league player.
His turn of pace is what is exciting his Rugby Sevens coaches keen to see how he develops in the sport with the LA Olympics just three years away and Brisbane hosting in 2032 and with high expectations of a record gold medal haul at home.
“The development contract is kind of like a train and trial. I’m in there to train with them, show them what I have, what I can do. It’s very exciting.’’
High profile sprinter turned rugby player Trae “Quadzilla” Williams owned the fastest 100m time in Rugby Sevens (10.10) while he was playing for Australia.
