Standout teenage sprinter seems to be like a star within the making, however let’s give him room to develop somewhat than piling on the stress, writes Katharine Merry
Even earlier than this 12 months began, we got one more reason to get enthusiastic about what may lie forward for the game of athletics. He may solely lately have celebrated his seventeenth birthday however already Gout Gout has effectively and actually made headline information.
In case you haven’t heard, this son of South Sudanese dad and mom who was born in Brisbane has been placing in some scorching performances in his homeland. On the Australian All Faculties Athletics Championships in December he ran a wind-assisted 10.04 within the 100m heats, the fourth-fastest time in historical past for an below 18. His authorized time of 10.17 in successful the ultimate by the proverbial nation mile put him sixth on the all-time listing.
His subsequent efficiency within the 200m, breaking Peter Norman’s 56-year-old nationwide file of 20.07 – set through the Black Energy salute closing on the 1968 Olympics – with a run of 20.04 prompted much more of a stir.
Fairly rightly, everyone seems to be getting very enthusiastic about him and, predictably, the comparisons with Usain Bolt have flooded in. Even the good man himself has famous the similarities. To start with, there are the fast occasions, however his approach is analogous too and he’s additionally tall, skinny and gangly, because the younger Bolt was, plus he’s doing what Usain did in ripping up the file books.
Gout Gout (Getty)
I’ve been massively impressed by the footage of Gout’s wins and his pace in a straight line, flying away from the opposition within the closing phases, is totally phenomenal. To my eye, his type seems to be fairly sound technically and while you add in the truth that he’s an honest starter too then he’s arriving within the highlight from a really, superb place.
He’s nonetheless a way wanting the completed article, although, and there’s a lot growth for him to undergo. One space I feel he must tidy up on is operating the bend within the 200m. He’s 6ft 2in in the mean time and he hasn’t stopped rising but. Operating the bend isn’t a straightforward factor to do while you’re tall and from what I’ve seen it seems to be like he’s going to need to be taught to barter it as finest he can in races, somewhat than with the ability to bulldoze his means by means of it within the method that an athlete of shorter stature with a decrease centre of gravity may be capable to.
Michael Norman is a rarity in being tall but in addition being able to run his bends in a means that’s tidy and compact however nonetheless fast. I feel if Gout can observe that instance and tidy that space up a little bit then it’s going to make a distinction – however it’s going to come over time, by means of expertise and elevated energy.
Gout appears to have an excellent help community already within the type of his coach Di Sheppard, who has finished an excellent job thus far, and his supervisor James Templeton. He’s not resulting from race once more till March, too, so I’m actually happy to see that he isn’t being rushed.
Gout Gout, Bayanda Walaza, Jake Odey-Jordan (World Athletics)
I’m very enthusiastic about what Gout may be able to however, as with every younger athlete rising on to the scene, I’ve to sound a word of warning. We’ve been right here earlier than – what number of athletes have been dubbed ‘the subsequent Bolt’ in recent times? – so let’s not get carried away and heap a number of stress on to his teenage shoulders earlier than his profession has even actually obtained out of the beginning blocks.
I’ll say, although, that his performances have been nice at bringing a little bit of media consideration again in the direction of athletics throughout what’s a quieter time of 12 months on the observe. When the stadium doorways are closed in Europe and the indoor season is but to get absolutely underway, it has been unbelievable to see the game within the information and for such optimistic causes. Right here’s hoping Gout can experience that wave of positivity.
Already that is turning into an attention-grabbing 12 months for athletics. We now have the World Championships as the principle occasion – and who isn’t trying ahead to seeing that Tokyo Olympic Stadium filled with spectators finally? It is going to be very completely different from after I was there stadium saying on the delayed Olympics, commentating in a masks and dropping off a Covid take a look at each morning on the stadium gates!
But it surely appears like the broader panorama is about to begin shifting. This 12 months we’ll get our first style of Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Observe enterprise that has been attracting so many huge names and appears set to offer what I feel is a few wholesome competitors to the Diamond League.
I do know Michael has are available in for some criticism about there being no subject occasions concerned within the sequence, however I’ve sympathy for him on this regard. He’s sticking to what he is aware of and really placing his head above the parapet, making an attempt to do one thing completely different and take the game ahead. He’s damned if he does and damned if he doesn’t.
World Athletics need to put innovation entrance and centre, too, and I don’t have an issue with that, so long as it’s some tinkering and experimentation somewhat than main surgical procedure. There’ll at all times be individuals who don’t like change however my view is that the core of the game is at all times going to be there and can nonetheless be the inspiration stone. It’s not like we’re about to begin operating the 350m at main championships, for instance!
At its coronary heart, athletics continues to be going to be the identical so let’s hope that we’ll have loads to look again on with delight come the shut of 2025.
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