As Gout Gout’s ascension on this planet of athletics continues apace, the person accountable for guiding him to the highest says he stays the identical “happy-go-lucky” child he has all the time been.
Gout’s coach James Templeton had a front-row seat because the 16-year-old dash sensation clocked an unbelievable time of 20.29 on the weekend’s Queensland All Colleges championships and can quickly accompany him on a visit to coach with the quickest man on Earth, Noah Lyles.
However there’s a sure stress that comes with teaching such a prodigious expertise, and whereas the reward — and comparisons to the legendary Usain Bolt — have come thick and quick, Templeton has labored exhausting to maintain Gout protected and grounded.
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“I’ve averted utilizing the ‘UB’ comparability. I believe that is unfair to a younger athlete,” Templeton advised the ABC Sport Every day podcast, referring to Bolt.
“For 18 months I’ve mainly mentioned a blanket ‘no’ to each media outlet in Australia that has requested. We simply need to enable him to be a traditional child in school. We do not need him to have any distraction.
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“It is all going to be forward of him. We wish his life to be as regular as attainable for so long as attainable.
“However the fashionable world with viral movies, regardless of saying no to media he has gone viral and all people is beginning to get to know him.”
Protecting a lid on the hype is troublesome with an athlete like Gout Gout, and although he refrains from placing a label or a ceiling on his potential, Templeton can see the greatness inside him.
“Having seen a whole lot of nice younger athletes and sprinters through the years, I am firmly satisfied he has that one thing just a little bit particular to kick by means of to the very highest ranges,” he mentioned.
“It is nice watching him run. He is obtained that circulation and rhythm which is simply mesmerising. Watching him come off the bend and in that final 50-60 metres, it’s extremely particular.”
Gout Gout first received the Australian underneath 18 200m again in 2022. (Athletics Australia)
A not too long ago inked sponsorship cope with Adidas has opened the door for Gout to affix a coaching camp with Lyles within the US, a possibility which he’s understandably enthusiastic about.
“We’ve got the chance to go to Florida and be part of the coaching group of Noah Lyles and [coach] Lance Brauman. There’s about 16 or 18 prime sprinters there.
“We’ll be heading over for 2 or three weeks. That’ll be an awesome alternative, a beautiful academic expertise.
“I have never heard from Noah, however he is an awesome man and I am certain he’ll be joyful to take the youthful man underneath his wing just a little bit.”
In terms of planning Gout’s future, little or no will probably be left to likelihood. The 2032 Olympics in Brisbane already sit as a beacon within the distance, however each occasion alongside the best way will function a vital stepping stone.
A part of meaning making robust choices — like sitting out the 2026 Commonwealth Video games.
Gout Gout is already eyeing the 2026 World Juniors, on the expense of the Commonwealth Video games. (AAP Picture: Athletics Australia/Andrew Hilditch)
“2026 will probably be an awesome 12 months, and the massive occasion for him is the World Juniors,” Templeton mentioned.
“He broke by means of to an extent this 12 months and the 2026 model in Eugene, Oregon, and that’ll be a beautiful occasion.
“Sadly it clashes with the Commonwealth Video games — the Commonwealth hasn’t fairly regarded on the calendar in the best way that we take a look at the calendar — so we will have to select between the 2.
“At this stage it appears just like the World Juniors are going to be our precedence, which is bitterly disappointing.
“As Australians, the Commonwealth Video games are one thing that we love and are very excessive profile however, if given a alternative between the 2, I believe the World Juniors will win out.
“It is seen because the gateway for younger athletes. World Juniors is huge in our sport.”
There’s a lot already on the plate of a younger man making ready for his faculty exams this week, however Templeton says the viral fame and burgeoning success hasn’t modified Gout a bit.
“He is a brilliant younger man. Very joyful, very easygoing, very pleasant. He hasn’t modified in any respect.
“He is turn into a little bit of a star inside the faculty group however he is been fully unaffected by it.
“He is nonetheless the identical joyful go fortunate man he is all the time been.
“There isn’t any indicators of any celebrity complicated. There isn’t any drama with him. He is only a nice younger man.”
