Being the next big thing comes with its own set of challenges. There's excitement and promise, but also a heavy burden of expectation. This is the landscape 16-year-old Australian sprinter Gout Gout and his coach Di Sheppard have been navigating this year. It all started when a viral video showcased the young Queenslander outpacing a field of schoolboy sprinters with a stride reminiscent of Usain Bolt.

The Bolt comparisons have been frequent, but Gout, the third of seven children born to South Sudanese immigrants Monica and Bona Gout, has remained focused. He acknowledges the honor of being compared to the greatest sprinter in history but emphasizes his goal to make a name for himself. "I'm Gout Gout, and I'm here to create my own legacy," he asserts.

The internet buzz began before Gout left Queensland, intensifying with each public appearance. In August, he secured a silver medal in the 200m at the World Under-20 Championships in Lima, Peru, racing against teenagers up to two years older and clocking a personal best of 20.60s. This performance caught the eye of Adidas, leading to a professional contract in October. Just a week later, he set a new personal best of 20.29sec at the Queensland All Schools Athletics Championships, breaking Australian records and placing him fourth on the national all-time list.

Olympic champion Sally Pearson and renowned commentator Bruce McAvaney are among those in the athletics community who are excited about Gout's potential, especially considering his potential peak timing around the Brisbane Olympic Games in 2032. Coach Sheppard and manager James Templeton are confident that Gout will soon be Australia's fastest man, but they are also cautious, working to keep him grounded and shielded from the pitfalls of early fame.

Sheppard shares a conversation she had with Gout after returning from Peru. Gout remarked, "What we did was pretty big, hey?" She agreed but reminded him to stay humble. "We both knew it was significant, but it's just one step on a long journey," she explains.

Sheppard, who has coached generations of teenagers at Ipswich Grammar School, first noticed Gout at 13 during a tryout for the GPS Championships in 2020. She saw potential and slowly introduced him to athletics, initially training only twice a week while he continued playing football. She eventually told him, "Dude, I think you can go all the way." Despite his rapid development, Sheppard remains cautious with predictions, acknowledging that Gout is ahead of schedule.

Gout's naturally laidback personality helps him cope with the growing attention. "He's a very easygoing, happy kid," Sheppard says. This week, Gout will return to the track for the Australian All Schools Championships in Brisbane, aiming to break Sebastian Sultana's national under-18 record of 10.27s in the 100m.

Looking ahead, Gout and Sheppard plan to spend a few weeks in January training with Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles and his coach Lance Brauman in Florida. Sheppard sees this as a valuable learning experience, not just for Gout but also for herself.

Despite the excitement, Sheppard remains grounded, emphasizing that they are far from reaching their peak. "We know the job is not done yet – we haven't even reached base camp of Everest," she says. And if her efforts to keep him grounded aren't enough, his family will surely play a role. "There's a little one who's 10 – he's like, 'I'm going to be better than my brother,'" Sheppard shares.

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