'Not fair': Fans left fuming after Gout Gout dudded by act of 'sabotage'
Fans are questioning why organisers scheduled Gout Gout in the same semi-final as favourite John Evans at the Stawell Gift on Monday, after Gout failed to make up enough ground to advance to the final. The winners of the six semi-finals progressed through to Monday's final at the iconic event at Central Park in Stawell, but unfortunately Gout wasn't one of them.
And neither was Lachie Kennedy, who was pipped by 17-year-old flyer Dash Muir in the first semi. Kennedy and Gout were both given massive handicaps, starting from the back of their semi-final races.
It proved too big an impediment as the young Aussie phenoms failed to progress to the final. Evans had clocked the fastest heat time of 12.13 off a generous mark of 9.75m, and was given an 8.75m head-start over Gout in the sixth semi.
Considering the majority of the packed crowd were there to see Gout, some questioned why organisers didn't put him in a different semi-final to give him a better chance to make the final. Hundreds of spectators were seen leaving the ground after Gout failed to progress, and the TV audience would have dropped off dramatically.
One person wrote on social media: "Classic self sabotage from Stawell stewards and VAL (Victorian Athletic League) - put Gout gout in same semi-final as John Evans (fastest qualifier and favourite)."
Another commented: "If the two fastest men aren't in the final I don't think there'll be much interest. I don't think Gout is any chance from his mark."
Some also moved to question whether Gout and Kennedy were given too big of a handicap, and whether it would have been wiser to shorten their marks to give them more of a chance of making the final. Gout had earlier said: 'I always like chasing people down, I've never really been in front the first 40, 50m of a race. So I think just being that back-marker really helps me get into my stride and really run people down. I really enjoyed it.'
Classic self sabotage from Stawell stewards and VAL- put Gout gout in same Semi final as John Evans (fastest qualifier and favourite)
— Gil (@Doesgilgetalick) April 21, 2025
None of the red markers coming through. It'll be a disaster for the handicappers if Gout doesn't get through.
— Uncommon Tweeter 🦢🦢🦢 (@cignicigni) April 21, 2025
No Kennedy, no Gout. Fail. Switch off. And the commentators can't say what a giant stuff up this Stawell is.
— Uncommon Tweeter 🦢🦢🦢 (@cignicigni) April 21, 2025
Honestly not fan at all of the Stawell Gift. handicap races are just ridiculous and not fair. Gout Gout would flog these guys if they started even.
— David (@tigzdaka) April 21, 2025
The handicap margins should be reduced. Final won't have the same feel without Kennedy and Gout
— Punters Club (@PuntersClub2025) April 21, 2025
Impossible handicap for Gout Gout #StawellGift
— Barrie Lester (@122blest) April 21, 2025
Gout and Kennedy have captivated the country and drawn international headlines over the last few weeks. They created huge interest in the Stawell Gift after renewing their rivalry at the iconic event.
Kennedy shot to international prominence when he won silver in the 60m at the world indoor championships in Nanjing, China, in March. He pipped fellow Queenslander Gout in the 200m at the Maurie Plant Meet in Melbourne late last month, before they both starred at the national championships last week.
Gout won the 100m in the Under-21 event, before winning the open competition in the 200m. Kennedy was pipped by Tokyo Olympic phenom Rohan Browning in the 100m, before being disqualified from the 200m for a false start in the final against Gout.
Kennedy looked right at home in his Stawell Gift debut on grass on Saturday, when he clocked the third-fastest heat time of 12.23 seconds. "I've watched this Gift many times, even before I started doing track, you always watch this as it's a great event," Kennedy said. "It's got a whole lot of history behind it and I'm just honoured to be able to run here and be able to put on a show."
Muir, Jasper Thomas, Mitchell O'Neill, Patrick Martin, Joshua Lotsu and Evans were the six men to make the final. Jasmine Rowe, Jemma Stapleton, Chiara Santiglia, Armani Anderson, Grace Crowe and Bree Rizzo earlier advanced to the women's final.
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