Seventeen-year-old sprint sensation Gout Gout has been awarded the prestigious Betty Cuthbert Medal for the Most Outstanding Single Performance of the 2025 Australian Athletics Championships, after etching his name even deeper among the greatest Under-20 athletes of all time to win gold in the Men’s 200m.
With the Perth crowd on their feet, the Ipswich product lit up the track roaring to a wind-assisted 19.84 (+2.2) in the final, to clock the second fastest time in global history by an Under-20 man in all conditions and to win his first Australian Open title.
With legal wind conditions not on his side throughout the Championships, Gout clocked two 9.99 performances in the Under-20 100m and kept his composure yesterday at the start line, before unleashing a masterclass of sprinting never seen before in Australia.
Flying off the bend and charging down the straight, teenager coached by Di Sheppard, left no doubt he is made for the big moments.
“It definitely feels great to win this. I mean this is my first Open Nationals,” Gout reflected.
“Coming away with the National title and best performance, it’s surreal to think about. Athletics in Australia is definitely rising, and it feels great to be part of it. The likes of Lachie Kennedy, Rohan Browning, Seb Sultana, Josh Azzopardi and the whole group of sprinters is great.
“And it’s not even just the sprinters, but also in distance, the jumpers, literally all the throws. I think we’re definitely coming up for sure and I’m proud to contribute to that.”
Reflecting on his achievement after his 200m win, Gout said:
“I took off, got my flick and just sent it down the home straight. These are the steps we take to the top, and you know, these are the steps I have to take to potentially become a world champion or an Olympic champion,” Gout said.
“Obviously I was here for juniors. I was supporting my teammates but just seeing Leah O’Brien, Torrie Lewis, Rohan Browning, they’re running fast and I’m like, I just want to be out there and keep running, so it definitely felt great to be out there.”
Gout’s 19.84 performance was one of more than 60 Championships records broken or equalled in Perth, alongside the likes of Lachlan Kennedy (10.00 in the Men’s 100m), Nicola Olyslagers (2.01m in the Women’s High Jump) and Peter Bol, who set a new national Men’s 800m in 1:43.79.
The Australian Athletics Championships concluded yesterday, with the meet the finale of the Chemist Warehouse Summer Series. The meet was supported by the Western Australian Government through Tourism WA, as well as Venues West and Athletics West.
By Sascha Ryner, Australian Athletics
Posted: 14/4/2025
