Teenage sprint star Gout Gout is in line to make Australian athletics history this weekend.
The 17-year-old, who has taken the sport by storm since bursting onto the scene last year, is preparing to make his first appearance of 2025 at the Queensland titles.
And his return to action is likely to come with huge interest as he continues his impressive career trajectory.
But this weekend’s event could see the star break not one, but two records, according to his manager James Templeton.
Gout is being tipped to break the ten-second barrier for the 100 metres as well as going sub-20 seconds in the 200 metres, as long as conditions are favourable.
No Australian has ever achieved both and the opportunity to do so on consecutive days would be an unprecedented moment in Australian athletics.
“It’s not impossible,” Templeton told Fox Sports.
“If everything is in his favour I think he’s a chance to run under 10 seconds anytime he races really.”
When quizzed on the possibility of Gout posting a time under 20 seconds in the 200m Templeton replied: “That’s always on the cards.”
Templeton did point out that weather conditions would go a long way to determining whether the records can be broken, with crosswinds likely to hamper any hopes of making history.
“He’s not going to do anything like that into a negative wind,” he added.
“I’d say 28 degrees, between one and a half and two metres at his back and a nice start and he’s feeling great.”
This weekend’s weather is currently forecasted at 27 degrees – a far stretch from the cyclone that ravaged through Queensland last week.
Gout’s fastest time over 100m to date stands at a rapid 10.17 seconds which he achieved at the Australian All-Schools Championships in Brisbane in December.
The following day he posted a personal best time of 20.04 seconds in the 200m, breaking a 56-year-old national record.
But there is more to come according to Templeton who says Gout is feeling faster than he did last year.
“He feels stronger, he feels faster, he’s pretty excited,” Templeton said.
“He’s looking forward to getting on the track and seeing what he’s got. Let’s see how the weekend goes.”
Asked about Gout’s mindset ahead of a possible meeting with older competitors who have posted faster times than him over 100m, Templeton said: “Certainly, it doesn’t daunt him,” said “He can’t be fretting about some decent local competition. It’s great for Australian athletics.”
