🟠 News Club - Getting Gout Gout

Watching a star in his formation

There were a few things I could have focused on this week. A growing trade war between the US and China threatens the global economy. The talks to prevent the weaponisation of Iran’s nuclear program after relationships broke down are now happening. There’s an official end to South Korea’s leadership under Yoon Suk Yeol after his martial law snafu, and the nation is now heading to an election. There are always a lot of significant things going on that The Squiz enjoys helping you with… 

But as we head into a glorious period of back-to-back long weekends, I’m already looking to lean back a bit. So this spotlight on teenage athlete Gout Gout has caught my attention, and he will be in the news over Easter as he competes for glory in regional Victoria’s famous Stawell Gift. 

It feels like it’s been a while since Australia has been heaps excited about a sprinting prospect. We’ve had glimpses of it - the most recent I can recall was Rohan Browning, who, by the way, is still in the mix. He ran a personal best 10.01 seconds for the 100m on the weekend to win the men’s national title in Perth, beating another rising star Lachie Kennedy.  

Gout, who is 17yo, competed in the under 20s - he ran a wind-assisted 9.99 seconds… 

1. Gout was born in 2007 to South Sudanese parents, who had emigrated to Australia a few years before he was born. Settling in Queensland, it was apparent early that he had some talent on the track. He told the Sydney Morning Herald/Age’s ‘Good Weekend’ mag he thought he was “low-key good at this” after blitzing everyone at 12yo…

2. Last year there was a flurry about whether we’ve been saying his name wrong after his father Bona told Seven there was a mix-up with the paperwork and his son’s name is actually Guot (pronounced ‘Gwot’). “I know that Gout Gout is a disease name, but I don’t want my son to be called a disease name ... it’s something that’s not acceptable.” The athlete’s manager later clarified: “Categorically, it’s Gout Gout. You know, the thing you hope to avoid in your ankle. That’s how it’s pronounced.”

3. What’s led to Gout being touted as the next Usain Bolt? He’s got 4 strings to his bow - an explosive start, long stride, high top speed and smooth technique. This article from The Conversation takes a sports science view of his talent.

4. And what’s the Stawell Gift? To help with another pronunciation, it’s ‘stall’... And it’s Australia’s richest and arguably most famous footrace that’s been on over the Easter break since 1878 (except during WWII and in 2020). And it’s a handicapped race – meaning that runners are not all standing on the same start line. Gout and Kennedy will go head to head, and it’s gonna be exciting - you can tune in on Easter Monday for the final at 2.20pm AEST - that’s on Seven.

And with that, there will be no News Club newsletter this week… May your Easter break be as choco-fied as I hope mine will be…