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News.com.au
16 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Racism storm erupts after Gout Gout's latest sprinting heroics
Teen phenomenon Gout Gout built on his burgeoning legacy with a stunning performance on his European athletics debut in the early hours of Wednesday AEST. The 17-year-old, who still can't legally vote or hold a full Queensland drivers licence, ran down a high quality field at the Golden Spike event in the Czech Republic, improving his own 200m national record with a time of 20.02 seconds. It is just the latest step in an already remarkable career from a prodigious talent that has experts reaching for the record books every time he dons his spikes. His feat was naturally celebrated across the globe, with many marvelling at his undeniable progress and others becoming aware of his extraordinary ability for the first time. Sadly that acclaim isn't always reflected by the land that should be supporting Gout more than any other - right here in Australia. While he was feted globally, countless so-called Australians – the vast majority a gutless lot using fake or hidden names on social media – couldn't resist the opportunity to ridicule the youngster and his heritage. Gout's family migrated to Australia in 2005 and settled in Queensland, where he was born two years later. He has spent his entire life in the state, commencing high school at Ipswich Grammar School and attending his school formal just last month. Blessed with raw talent, Gout emerged as a sprinting prodigy at a meet in 2020 and has been shattering Australia's junior records ever since. He took that a step further at the Australian All Schools Championships in December last year when he ran 20.04 seconds to break the great Peter Norman's 200m record of 20.06s that had stood since the 1968 Olympics. Gout, who has also broken the 10-second barrier in wind-assisted 100m races, lowered that 200m record to 20.02s on Wednesday as he inches closer to breaking 20 seconds. His effort brought some enormous praise online. Tennis great Paul McNamee wrote on X: 'Our Aussie takes wings in Europe too.' Former athlete and current track and field journalist Mitch Dyer tweeted: 'As someone who has watched Gout Gout up close a lot now, this phase from 50-150m is only getting better. His start was faster, his launch into the turn was clean – this is electric to watch. A new Aus record on his European debut, can't wait for what's in store over the coming weeks.' Reporter Mark Gottlieb said: '17 years old. Running 20.02 to easily win races against seasoned professionals in his first ever race in Europe. Gout Gout is the truth.' Queensland premier David Crisafulli also noted the performance, tweeting: 'A Queenslander showing the world how it's done. Congratulations on another incredible run Gout Gout.' But amid all the praise, this is where the narrative sadly takes a much darker turn. Crisafulli's tweet has had over 200 comments and a huge number of them sickeningly declare that Gout is anything but Australian. The very first reply to Crisafulli came from @JennyTa22393082, who ended her reply with a face palm emoji after commenting: 'Yeah he looks Australian.' Brendan Everingham, who uses the handle @AngloCeltx, replied: 'Absolutely not a 'Queenslander'. He's an African, not an Australian.' Another account, @conway_austen, offered this and we've retained the typo: 'Your on drugs, that's an African.' There were countless other confronting comments we won't list here and they continue a horrific theme Gout cops every time he achieves something on the track. The better he does, the worse some of the vitriol descends. Thankfully, in this reporter's opinion, many of those cowardly comments are called out by others. One tweet that sparked a huge response came from Jacob, who has an account called @MagpieMetalcore. He wrote: 'I wonder why people question Gout Gout legitimately of being Australian but not people like Andrew Bogut, Ange Postecoglou & Shane Warne to name a few. Just quite can't put my finger on it. 'You're Australian if you're born here and also can become an Aussie by being a citizen.' Basketball great Bogut was born in Melbourne after his parents immigrated to Australia from Croatia. Europa League winning manager Postecoglou was born in Greece before moving Down Under as a five-year-old, while Warne's mother Brigitte is German. Others were quick to point out the likes of swimming gold medallist Cate Campbell, who was born in Malawi, or tennis star Alex de Minaur, who has a Uruguayan father and Spanish mother. Regardless, there was a strong reaction to the hundreds of comments declaring Gout is not Australian. Andrew Rollason tweeted: 'Has anyone heard him speak? My goodness. That voice can only come from southern Queensland. Gout Gout is as Aussie as XXXX and chucking (donuts) in a Woolies car park.' Account @Kelly99978391 said: 'I would have thought all Australians would be very proud to have one of the fastest runners in the world. I'm ecstatic he is Australian.' Kit Walker took it a step further, writing: 'I love it when they out themselves as bigots. Makes my job of adding to my block list so much easier.' Daniel MZ Hogan declared: 'Just might be a little thing called racism.' Others expressed their dismay or disgust at many of the comments. Account @taipan168 said: 'Gout Gout is a legend in the making, but the replies to this are utterly disgraceful. Gout Gout was born in Australia, so he's an Australian. Full bloody stop.' The imaginatively titled @RecklesFlam1ngo said: 'Jfc the comments under every Gout Gout article are always disgusting.' @andrewckeith wrote: 'WTF is wrong with people here? Be proud of a fellow Aussie doing well on the world stage!! Be proud of Australia's unique heritage. Be proud to be Australian and of all other Australians.' Responding to Crisafulli's tweet, Barbara McDermott wrote: 'Gosh I'm ashamed at the replies to your post David.' It's a sad reality that social media will seemingly always allow these mostly faceless trolls to spew their hatred towards an individual like Gout. Thankfully, there are usually almost as many trying to shout them down. Gout, born and raised in Queensland, is a marvel and Australian to the core. And what's the bet these cowardly trolls stand and cheer if and when Gout dons the green and gold and stands atop an Olympic podium while Advance Australia Fair rings out?
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Gout Gout to make international debut with sights set on Tokyo world titles
Gout Gout will compete against senior athletes for the first time abroad this week at a meet in Ostrava. Gout Gout will compete against senior athletes for the first time abroad this week at a meet in Ostrava. Photograph: Colin Murty/AFP/Getty Images Gout Gout will take an important step on his athletics journey this week against a formidable field on his international senior debut in the Czech Republic, in race that only strengthens the parallels between him and sprint great Usain Bolt. Returning to Ipswich Grammar after a historic Australian season, the 17-year-old has now travelled to Europe in the mid-year school break to compete in Ostrava and at the upcoming Diamond League meet in Monaco in a programme designed to prepare him for the Tokyo World Championships in September. Advertisement Related: Nicola Olyslagers raises the bar with back-to-back Diamond League victories This week's meet – which takes place early Wednesday morning Australian time – provides a first glimpse of the teenager at the epicentre of global athletics, and presents the challenge of competing against senior sprinters on the professional European circuit for the first time. 'The main goal of the season is obviously world championships,' Gout said in the Czech Republic. 'Let's see what I can do on the world stage against professional athletes. Hopefully I can run fast and perform well.' After his record-breaking performances over the past 12 months, including the Australian 200m record of 20.04s and sub-20s wind-assisted 200m times, athletics observers have identified as Gout as one of the world's brightest talents. The resemblance of his style to Bolt's, together with the Jamaican's acknowledgement of the similarities, has done little to temper expectations. Advertisement The links between the pair will only grow deeper with the Australian's appearance in Ostrava. When Gout was not yet six months old, a 21-year-old Bolt underscored his potential in the same meet with a blistering 19.83s 200m, then his fastest time overseas and still a meet record. Later that year, the Jamaican would win his first Olympic gold medal at the 2008 Games in Beijing. But even before that, Bolt ran a 20.28s at the meet as a 19-year-old. He even travelled there in 2004 as a 17-year-old – the same age Gout is now – although withdrew at the last minute due to injury. Gout again faced questions about his similarities with Bolt this week. 'It definitely feels great, I've heard that a lot of sprinters run here really good. I know Usain Bolt ran here nine times, so the event clearly has a great tradition,' he said. 'Who doesn't want to be Usain Bolt? Being compared to Usain Bolt feels great but I would like to put my personality in the upcoming story.' Advertisement Related: 'Your social life will be non-existent': Gout Gout coach Di Sheppard on guiding the sprint sensation | Jack Snape This year that narrative is focused on Gout's performance in Tokyo, and his upcoming races in Europe are designed to hone his preparation. The 200m field this week includes two athletes who have run legal sub-20s times. Cuban Reynier Mena, 28, has already won Diamond League meets this year in Oslo and Stockholm, where he recorded his season's best of 20.05s. Britain's Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake, 31, was part of the British men's 100m relay that won bronze at last year's Olympics. Gout said he has been working on his strength and his starts since the Australian season ended in April. 'I'm looking forward to going out on Tuesday, seeing how my training has been, how I have improved,' he said. 'I know there is going to be a good crowd so I hope to have some fun.'
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Gout Gout to make international debut with sights set on Tokyo world titles
Gout Gout will take an important step on his athletics journey this week against a formidable field on his international senior debut in the Czech Republic, in race that only strengthens the parallels between him and sprint great Usain Bolt. Returning to Ipswich Grammar after a historic Australian season, the 17-year-old has now travelled to Europe in the mid-year school break to compete in Ostrava and at the upcoming Diamond League meet in Monaco in a programme designed to prepare him for the Tokyo World Championships in September. This week's meet – which takes place early Wednesday morning Australian time – provides a first glimpse of the teenager at the epicentre of global athletics, and presents the challenge of competing against senior sprinters on the professional European circuit for the first time. 'The main goal of the season is obviously world championships,' Gout said in the Czech Republic. 'Let's see what I can do on the world stage against professional athletes. Hopefully I can run fast and perform well.' After his record-breaking performances over the past 12 months, including the Australian 200m record of 20.04s and sub-20s wind-assisted 200m times, athletics observers have identified as Gout as one of the world's brightest talents. The resemblance of his style to Bolt's, together with the Jamaican's acknowledgement of the similarities, has done little to temper expectations. The links between the pair will only grow deeper with the Australian's appearance in Ostrava. When Gout was not yet six months old, a 21-year-old Bolt underscored his potential in the same meet with a blistering 19.83s 200m, then his fastest time overseas and still a meet record. Later that year, the Jamaican would win his first Olympic gold medal at the 2008 Games in Beijing. But even before that, Bolt ran a 20.28s at the meet as a 19-year-old. He even travelled there in 2004 as a 17-year-old – the same age Gout is now – although withdrew at the last minute due to injury. Gout again faced questions about his similarities with Bolt this week. 'It definitely feels great, I've heard that a lot of sprinters run here really good. I know Usain Bolt ran here nine times, so the event clearly has a great tradition,' he said. 'Who doesn't want to be Usain Bolt? Being compared to Usain Bolt feels great but I would like to put my personality in the upcoming story.' Sign up to Australia Sport Get a daily roundup of the latest sports news, features and comment from our Australian sports desk after newsletter promotion This year that narrative is focused on Gout's performance in Tokyo, and his upcoming races in Europe are designed to hone his preparation. The 200m field this week includes two athletes who have run legal sub-20s times. Cuban Reynier Mena, 28, has already won Diamond League meets this year in Oslo and Stockholm, where he recorded his season's best of 20.05s. Britain's Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake, 31, was part of the British men's 100m relay that won bronze at last year's Olympics. Gout said he has been working on his strength and his starts since the Australian season ended in April. 'I'm looking forward to going out on Tuesday, seeing how my training has been, how I have improved,' he said. 'I know there is going to be a good crowd so I hope to have some fun.'
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
‘Your social life will be non-existent': Gout Gout coach Di Sheppard on guiding the sprint sensation
As Gout Gout has bounded up the steps towards the summit of Australian athletics, never far away has been his coach Di Sheppard. Their journeys, however, could not be more different. The teenager has arrived in the blink of an eye. The son of South Sudanese immigrants, the Ipswich Grammar student is already a global track star and national 200m champion at 17, and has run faster than Usain Bolt at the same age. Advertisement Sheppard's struggles – as an athletics outsider, through adversity, all the while carrying trauma – have defined much of her 60 years. 'I sit there and say to 'the big man', it's nice to now get something good,' she says. 'I think I've paid my dues with the stuff that you have to deal with in life.' Related: Gout Gout's winds of change whip Australian athletics into frenzy It has been about four years since Sheppard first started working with Gout, the length of time Sheppard believes it takes to really get to know someone. She sees that his talents go well beyond his biomechanics, commitment to training or genetic gifts. She has recognised in Gout the 'emotional intelligence' of someone older, and an ability to understand the variables, the challenges of the everyday. Overcoming them and committing to a longer goal, Sheppard sees, is part of his constitution. 'You know yourself how hard that is as an adult, let alone as a kid,' she says. 'He has a massive ability to be able to do that.' Advertisement Those qualities have already taken Gout far. With elite times in both the 100m and 200m, few other Australian sprinters have achieved even close to what he already has. And with global fame and a seven-year runway to the Brisbane 2032 Olympics – where the local is on track to be the main attraction – Sheppard says she has tried to do what she can to prepare him for what is to come. 'I've been telling him for a couple of years that when we get to a set point, your social life will be pretty much non-existent, in the sense you just can't go out where you want,' she says. 'He's at that point pretty much now, which is kind of tough when you think he's still at school.' While Gout smiles widely and plays up for the cameras, Sheppard has a reputation for a frosty exterior. There's a large difference between the pair in height, in age, in background. Gout glides around the track, while Sheppard wears a brace on her right knee and walks with a limp. 'I got hit by a car when I was on the back of a motorbike, I've had 11 operations on my leg,' Sheppard says. 'I have golden staph in my leg, which means I can't get my leg operated on at any random time, because there's a good chance the infection will flare up again once the knee's totally open.' Advertisement Sheppard prefers to avoid the limelight. She speaks rarely to media, keeps to herself, hardly drinks alcohol and is not a networker around the athletics circuit. She was only prepared to consider an interview when the season's work – culminating in Gout's 200m national title in Perth – was done. But when she finally finds the right moment to talk, the woman increasingly known for her visor and sunglasses is warm and open. 'I love coaching, this is where the gratefulness comes in, and I feel totally blessed that my purpose is my passion. There's not too many people who can say that, so I revel in it when you get me talking.' The motorcycle accident and its legacy of pain is a personal challenge she shares matter-of-factly. It is not the only one. Sheppard does not want to publicly elaborate on the precise details of her life's darkest days, but she describes herself as being from a 'trauma background'. She admits it is only since seeing a counsellor in 2021 that she has been able to psychologically process her experiences. 'What the trauma counsellor was able to do is for me to understand that, 'Well, OK, I'm like I am, but I survived it',' she says. 'And that's a big thing, come out the other end and go, 'Well, I've accepted the fact that it made me who I am, but it's made me strong'.' Advertisement The developments in her personal life have been significant, as she has been able to address these historical trials and find some degree of peace. However, Sheppard quickly rejects the notion there has been any change in her as a coach. 'No, not at all, my boundaries are the same. If anything, I'm probably more stringent in them,' she says. Sheppard's approach to her job may not have changed, but the way people treat her has. She is arguably now Australian sport's most prominent female coach, in a sector that is failing to provide opportunities for women. During recent meets, she has had young female coaches come up to her and call her an inspiration. 'It blew me away, I was like, 'Really?' Because normally I'd get people think I'm hard to get along with,' she says. People have even begun to recognise her around Brisbane. 'I went to the local shop to do some grocery shopping, and people were smiling at me. And I'm like, excuse my French, 'What the fuck is going on? People don't smile at me',' she says. 'I've come home and I said to my son, 'I don't know what's going on, but I think my fuck-off aura is dropping'.' Sheppard has spent three decades grinding in the far from glitzy junior Australian athletics scene, committing to thousands of hours on tracks and ovals in a pursuit known for its inconsistent pay. After becoming involved with Jimboomba and then Sunnybank Little Athletics with her children, Sheppard worked at Woolworths before securing a job at Ipswich Grammar in the uniform shop in 2003. That presented the chance to train the school's athletes, and Sheppard quickly developed a passion for working with young sprinters and high jumpers. She took pride in integrating new techniques in dynamic stretching and a focus on recovery. With a growing stable of committed teenagers, Sheppard realised her approach – demanding, direct and advocating discipline – was effective. But without an elite athletics career or involvement in high-performance programs at glamorous sport institutes, she toiled around as a peripheral figure in the sport. Advertisement Sheppard concedes her demeanour might have rubbed some people the wrong way. 'Most probably people would have said, I'm unapproachable, I'm not pleasant,' she says. 'I didn't really care what people thought about me because when I go to a meet, I would normally have anywhere from eight to 15 athletes competing, so I'm there doing my job, I'm not there socialising, having chit chats or anything like that.' The success of Sheppard's students became impossible to ignore. She was instrumental in the development of Joseph Deng, the Australian men's 800m record holder until it was broken by Peter Bol two weeks ago, and few junior squads in the country have higher standards. Jonathan Kasiano, winner of the under-18 200m title two weeks ago in Perth, is another in her stable. Related: Stawell Gift 2025: silk singlets, a power blackout and Gout Gout add to fun of historic race | Jack Snape 'I've never advertised for any athletes to come to me,' Sheppard says. 'I just kind of knew that I had a gift for it. It's not being an educator like in the teaching system, because, I'm a little bit old school I'm afraid, I don't have any airs and graces about me. I am pretty dogmatic, so when you're here in front of me, you need to train.' Advertisement While Gout has handled the spotlight so far, his coach anticipates there will be challenges both on and off the track. 'Things will plateau, that's a natural part,' Sheppard says. 'It has to come to a 'Bang, OK, now we've got to find our next adaption phase to go up'.' The teenager's performances have already made him Australia's star athletic attraction. Yet it is potential that makes his story so compelling. Sheppard has established a reputation for her work with junior athletes, though she says she feels 'quite capable' of working with Gout all the way to his peak. 'For us to go to the top – we're still a long way from there – and because we know that's our end goal, we don't get too wrapped up into the good things that come,' she says. 'They're stepping stones, and that's how I've tried to teach Gout. There's no clear path up.'
The Guardian
30-04-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
‘Your social life will be non-existent': Gout Gout coach Di Sheppard on guiding the sprint sensation
As Gout Gout has bounded up the steps towards the summit of Australian athletics, never far away has been his coach Di Sheppard. Their journeys, however, could not be more different. The teenager has arrived in the blink of an eye. The son of South Sudanese immigrants, the Ipswich Grammar student is already a global track star and national 200m champion at 17, and has run faster than Usain Bolt at the same age. Sheppard's struggles – as an athletics outsider, through adversity, all the while carrying trauma – have defined much of her 60 years. 'I sit there and say to 'the big man', it's nice to now get something good,' she says. 'I think I've paid my dues with the stuff that you have to deal with in life.' It has been about four years since Sheppard first started working with Gout, the length of time Sheppard believes it takes to really get to know someone. She sees that his talents go well beyond his biomechanics, commitment to training or genetic gifts. She has recognised in Gout the 'emotional intelligence' of someone older, and an ability to understand the variables, the challenges of the everyday. Overcoming them and committing to a longer goal, Sheppard sees, is part of his constitution. 'You know yourself how hard that is as an adult, let alone as a kid,' she says. 'He has a massive ability to be able to do that.' Those qualities have already taken Gout far. With elite times in both the 100m and 200m, few other Australian sprinters have achieved even close to what he already has. And with global fame and a seven-year runway to the Brisbane 2032 Olympics – where the local is on track to be the main attraction – Sheppard says she has tried to do what she can to prepare him for what is to come. 'I've been telling him for a couple of years that when we get to a set point, your social life will be pretty much non-existent, in the sense you just can't go out where you want,' she says. 'He's at that point pretty much now, which is kind of tough when you think he's still at school.' While Gout smiles widely and plays up for the cameras, Sheppard has a reputation for a frosty exterior. There's a large difference between the pair in height, in age, in background. Gout glides around the track, while Sheppard wears a brace on her right knee and walks with a limp. 'I got hit by a car when I was on the back of a motorbike, I've had 11 operations on my leg,' Sheppard says. 'I have golden staph in my leg, which means I can't get my leg operated on at any random time, because there's a good chance the infection will flare up again once the knee's totally open.' Sheppard prefers to avoid the limelight. She speaks rarely to media, keeps to herself, hardly drinks alcohol and is not a networker around the athletics circuit. She was only prepared to consider an interview when the season's work – culminating in Gout's 200m national title in Perth – was done. But when she finally finds the right moment to talk, the woman increasingly known for her visor and sunglasses is warm and open. 'I love coaching, this is where the gratefulness comes in, and I feel totally blessed that my purpose is my passion. There's not too many people who can say that, so I revel in it when you get me talking.' The motorcycle accident and its legacy of pain is a personal challenge she shares matter-of-factly. It is not the only one. Sheppard does not want to publicly elaborate on the precise details of her life's darkest days, but she describes herself as being from a 'trauma background'. She admits it is only since seeing a counsellor in 2021 that she has been able to psychologically process her experiences. 'What the trauma counsellor was able to do is for me to understand that, 'Well, OK, I'm like I am, but I survived it',' she says. 'And that's a big thing, come out the other end and go, 'Well, I've accepted the fact that it made me who I am, but it's made me strong'.' The developments in her personal life have been significant, as she has been able to address these historical trials and find some degree of peace. However, Sheppard quickly rejects the notion there has been any change in her as a coach. 'No, not at all, my boundaries are the same. If anything, I'm probably more stringent in them,' she says. Sheppard's approach to her job may not have changed, but the way people treat her has. She is arguably now Australian sport's most prominent female coach, in a sector that is failing to provide opportunities for women. During recent meets, she has had young female coaches come up to her and call her an inspiration. 'It blew me away, I was like, 'Really?' Because normally I'd get people think I'm hard to get along with,' she says. Sign up to Australia Sport Get a daily roundup of the latest sports news, features and comment from our Australian sports desk after newsletter promotion People have even begun to recognise her around Brisbane. 'I went to the local shop to do some grocery shopping, and people were smiling at me. And I'm like, excuse my French, 'What the fuck is going on? People don't smile at me',' she says. 'I've come home and I said to my son, 'I don't know what's going on, but I think my fuck-off aura is dropping'.' Sheppard has spent three decades grinding in the far from glitzy junior Australian athletics scene, committing to thousands of hours on tracks and ovals in a pursuit known for its inconsistent pay. After becoming involved with Jimboomba and then Sunnybank Little Athletics with her children, Sheppard worked at Woolworths before securing a job at Ipswich Grammar in the uniform shop in 2003. HOW ABOUT GOUT 👑👑The kid has done it again. 17-year-old Gout Gout has secured a slice of history becoming the second fastest Under 20 man in history over 200m in all conditions, gliding to a time of 19.84 (+2.2) to win the Australian 200m title!We are running out of words… That presented the chance to train the school's athletes, and Sheppard quickly developed a passion for working with young sprinters and high jumpers. She took pride in integrating new techniques in dynamic stretching and a focus on recovery. With a growing stable of committed teenagers, Sheppard realised her approach – demanding, direct and advocating discipline – was effective. But without an elite athletics career or involvement in high-performance programs at glamorous sport institutes, she toiled around as a peripheral figure in the sport. Sheppard concedes her demeanour might have rubbed some people the wrong way. 'Most probably people would have said, I'm unapproachable, I'm not pleasant,' she says. 'I didn't really care what people thought about me because when I go to a meet, I would normally have anywhere from eight to 15 athletes competing, so I'm there doing my job, I'm not there socialising, having chit chats or anything like that.' The success of Sheppard's students became impossible to ignore. She was instrumental in the development of Joseph Deng, the Australian men's 800m record holder until it was broken by Peter Bol two weeks ago, and few junior squads in the country have higher standards. Jonathan Kasiano, winner of the under-18 200m title two weeks ago in Perth, is another in her stable. 'I've never advertised for any athletes to come to me,' Sheppard says. 'I just kind of knew that I had a gift for it. It's not being an educator like in the teaching system, because, I'm a little bit old school I'm afraid, I don't have any airs and graces about me. I am pretty dogmatic, so when you're here in front of me, you need to train.' While Gout has handled the spotlight so far, his coach anticipates there will be challenges both on and off the track. 'Things will plateau, that's a natural part,' Sheppard says. 'It has to come to a 'Bang, OK, now we've got to find our next adaption phase to go up'.' The teenager's performances have already made him Australia's star athletic attraction. Yet it is potential that makes his story so compelling. Sheppard has established a reputation for her work with junior athletes, though she says she feels 'quite capable' of working with Gout all the way to his peak. 'For us to go to the top – we're still a long way from there – and because we know that's our end goal, we don't get too wrapped up into the good things that come,' she says. 'They're stepping stones, and that's how I've tried to teach Gout. There's no clear path up.'
