Eleanor Gout, the 17-year-old Australian sprinter, is taking the athletics landscape by storm. You know all this already—his record-breaking performances in the 100m and 200m races have even non-track fans buzzing! Having dominated the Australian age-group athletics championships since the age of 15, Gout has made a name for himself as an incredibly tough athlete to beat. His latest accomplishments have earned him a slew of awards and accolades. Now, he is in the spotlight, and in the lead-up to the Games being compared to world-famous sprinter Usain Bolt.
Gout displayed amazing pace and talent on the ball at the national championships. He won gold medals in the 100m and 200m! The final javelin bolt of his night was his extraordinary performance in the 200m race. His final time was an incredible 19.84 seconds, smashing Usain Bolt’s former record of 20.13 seconds. This accomplishment has made him the second-fastest male athlete of all-time in the under-18 age group for this distance.
A Rapid Rise to Fame
Gout’s rise in the sprinting world has been meteoric. He achieved this incredible feat at the tender age of 15 years old. Since then he’s been steadily shaving his personal bests down, breaking the 20-second mark for the 200m event. Given that was a distinct improvement from his previous best of 22.68 seconds in 2021.
His quickness and athletic ability to the outside has certainly caught attention. “If I’ve ever seen anybody run like Bolt and built like him, he is it,” said Jane Flemming, a former Australian Olympic sprinter. This statement alone points to the huge burden of expectation on Gout. He’s opened doors and raised the level of excellence within the sport over and over again.
Gout’s dedication to the craft and his prodigious talent are what brought him this far, taking him all the way to success at the national and international levels. In 2024, he won gold in the 200m at the Oceania U18 Athletics Championships. This significant victory only helped to cement his position as a rising star in the sport of athletics.
Coach’s Confidence in Gout’s Future
Gout’s coach, Seppard, was very encouraged about Gout’s potentials in the sprints. As he underscored, Gout’s historic successes have brought unprecedented interest and energy—not just to Gout, but to the excitement surrounding him.
“The cork’s out of the genie bottle now,” – Sheppard
Gout’s moment in the sun has definitely arrived. He upped his profile with those who believe in the growing and developing purpose and possibilities of the sport. As he develops and competes at higher levels, the expectations will be greater. Gout seems all too happy to accept the challenge.
Gout is also ranked 30th in the World Athletics’ 200m rankings. He’s getting ready to go up against some of the best athletes in the world. His stunning performances have made him the talk of the town across fans and media, cementing his position as one of Australian athletics’ greatest stars.
The Road Ahead for Gout
While Gout wraps up his sprinting career, he’s still intent on challenging his limits. Despite all he has accomplished, he feels he has more to improve on and still wants to run faster.
Standing at 1.83m (6ft) tall, Gout has the athletic frame that underpins his springing form. His seemingly superhuman physical attributes along with his dogged and never-quit mentality of competitive drive make him nothing short of a future household name in athletics.
Gout’s journey to this point has been remarkable, but it is just getting started. Demand for his attention whenever he’s in public is a symptom of the growing star power he possesses as an athlete. Fans and aspiring sprinters alike will be eager to see what the future holds for this extraordinary talent.
