Teen track star Gout Gout, who pipped one of Australia’s most famous records at the Australian All Schools Championships in Brisbane on Saturday, has had his day spoiled by ugly comments online.
Just 24 hours after claiming a wind-assisted time of of 10.04 seconds in his 100m heat, the Ipswich product crushed his competition again at the Australian All Schools Athletics Championships.
The wind was again at the teenager’s back and he never looked like losing his 200m heat with a blistering time of 20.38.
Usain Bolt holds the world 200m record with a time of 19.19 seconds.
‘It’s definitely great. I’ve been chasing that record,’ Gout said.
‘It’s pretty crazy. Right now I can’t process it, but tonight when I go to bed and think about it it will be pretty crazy for sure.
Teen track star Gout Gout has had his day somewhat spoiled by ugly comments online
Gout Gout has been dominant at the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre in Brisbane
‘These are adult times and me, just a kid, I’m running them, so it’s definitely going to be a great future for sure.’
However, the young gun’s achievements have been spoiled after scores of comments objected to Gout being refereed to as ‘Australian’.
Gout, the son of a couple who moved to Australia from South Sudan, was born and raised in Australia.
‘If this guy is Australian then I’m Saint Nick,’ posted one X user.
‘He is not Australian,’ claimed another.
‘Born here certainly doesn’t make him Australian. You are a bit simple if U think that he is Aussie. Ffs,’ said a third.
Many other X users were appalled by the comments.
‘Replies to this are disgusting. Gout Gout was born here and never lived overseas, he’s an Aussie and this should be celebrated,’ posted one fan.
He coasted to victory in his 200m heat on Saturday after smashing the field in the 100m the day before
The 16-year-old ran a blistering 10.04 in his 100m final (pictured)
‘He’s Australian he was born here. He’s got an Aussie accent as well. Probably more Australian than a lot of people in the country,’ replied a second.
‘What an absolute gun. Aussie Aussie Aussie!!!!’ posted another.
As his profile increases, Gout knows he is the centre of attention most places he goes.
Constant comparisons to Jamaican sporting great Usain Bolt would be intimidating for many teenagers – but not the confident student from suburban Brisbane.
Gout is happy to take everything in his stride – literally – and see just how far the sport takes him.
Already sponsored by Adidas, Gout finished second in the 200m final at the World Under-20 Championships in Lima back in August.
The flyer was racing athletes up to two years older, and he scorched across the track to record a slick time of 20.60.
Gout is also adamant he can eventually break the elusive 10 second barrier.
As his profile increases, Gout knows he is the centre of attention most places he goes (pictured, after blitzing the field to win the 100m final)
The last Australia to do so was Patrick Johnson back in 2003, who clocked 9.93 at a meet in Japan.
Gout has declared a time of sub 10 will ‘definitely happen’ – and given he has started beating junior records of Olympic icon Bolt, it is hard to argue.
His coach Di Sheppard – who discovered him when Gout was a year 7 student – is just as confident.
‘We talk about it because to us it’s a given (that he breaks 10 seconds),’ she told News Corp.
‘When it happens it happens, and it could happen early….because everything’s happening sooner than we expected.’
Come the Brisbane Olympics in 2032, Gout will be 24 – and Sheppard believes he can do the 100m/200m double on the world’s biggest stage.
When it comes to Bolt, Gout is determined to be himself, but given his similar style on the track, he knows comparisons are inevitable.
In January, Gout and Sheppard are travelling to the US for a training stint with Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles, who is based in Orlando.
The primary aim will be watching Lyles in the flesh, and learning how to deal with the considerable hype which is certain to follow over the next few years.
Australia had its iconic Cathy Freeman moment at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 when the Indigenous star won the 400m final – what price of history repeating itself with Gout in Brisbane come 2032?
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk