Gout Gout could soon face competition from another Aussie sprint sensation after a 15-year-old record was smashed. Gout, who has drawn comparisons with Olympic great Usain Bolt, recently competed at the senior World Championships in Tokyo at the age of just 17, having smashed numerous national records.
Gout will have been impressed with 16-year-old Uwezo Lubenda’s performance in the 100m at the Queensland Representative School Sport event. The Townsville athlete flew past the finish line in a jaw-dropping time of 10.35, demolishing the previous under-16 record in the state championship. That was held by Hugh Donovan, who posted 10.73 back in 2010. To put Lubenda’s time into context, it would have got him through preliminary heats in 100m at this year’s World Championship. Gout’s personal best as a 16-year-old was 10.17, set in December last year shortly before he turned 17.
After receiving his medal from former Olympian Paul Di Bella, Lubenda, whose previous PB was 10.42, said per the Townsville Bulletin: “Man, I feel amazing. I was kind of hoping for a time like that, and I wasn’t thinking too much about it, but I’m really grateful.”
Lubenda, who was born in January 2009, immigrated from the Congo to Australia with his family in 2013. His long-term goals include competing at the 2032 Olympic Games in Queensland’s capital, Brisbane, by which time he will be 23. He said last year: “My goal is 2032 Brisbane; I’ve got my eyes on that.”
Fellow Queenslander Gout is also aiming for the 2032 Games. He has already become a celebrity in Australia and has signed a lucrative deal with sportswear giant Adidas. Speaking about that deal earlier this year, he told GQ: “It was crazy. The number kept getting higher and I realised how much these companies think I’m worth.
“But that sponsorship really helps you get to the next level because obviously you need the money to travel and to train. Especially since I’m at school, so I don’t need to go and find a job at Maccas or whatever to put fuel in my car. It definitely helps a lot.”
Gout, who was born in Australia after his family moved to the country from Sudan 20 years ago, added: “Long term, I’d like to set myself up and set my family up.
“I’ve saved a lot and I bought myself a new car when I got my Ps [a provisional driving licence, so that’s probably the biggest purchase I’ve made so far. I haven’t gone crazy.”
