“I Can Tell He’s Really Upset”: Gout Gout’s Genuine Response to Surprising Loss Exposed

Gout Gout’s coach, Di Sheppard, has shared insights into the young sprint star’s frustration following his defeat by Lachlan Kennedy at the Maurie Plant Meet held in Melbourne on Saturday night.

Kennedy, aged 21, showcased that Gout isn’t the only Australian talent in sprinting, clinching an impressive victory in the Peter Norman Memorial (men’s 200m) with a time of 20.26 seconds.

Gout secured second place in 20.30 seconds, falling short of his Australian record-breaking performance of 20.04 seconds achieved at the Australian All Schools Championships last December.

Gout topped the bill at the packed track and field event at Lakeside Stadium, as the 17-year-old has been riding a wave of attention since clinching silver in the boy’s 200m final at the World Athletics U20 Championships.

After the race, both Gout and Kennedy were seen congratulating each other and shared a warm embrace, with the Queensland athlete appearing upbeat.

However, following the surprising outcome in his favourite event, Gout was reported to be feeling “angry” afterwards.

In a post-race interview with ABC’s 7.30, Sheppard elaborated on Gout’s feelings regarding the result.

“I can confirm he’s quite angry about how things went,” she said.

“Each step we’ve taken is a progression. It’s about learning how to navigate this environment, and he’s making excellent strides.”

“Let’s keep in mind he’s only 17 years old … and he has a promising future ahead of him.”

Kennedy shot out of the blocks and quickly gained the lead, maintaining his advantage as they entered the final straight.

In true form, Gout executed a stellar second 100m, closing the gap on Kennedy. However, as they both lunged for the finish line, Kennedy seized victory by a mere four hundredths of a second.

Had the race been slightly longer, Gout could have potentially claimed a victory.

In his post-race comments, Gout stated he would harness the experience gained as a motivator.

“I’m focusing on what I can take from this experience and how I can push myself further in training leading up to nationals,” he said.

“This is what it’s all about—the atmosphere, the crowd, the expectations. This is sport; this is what I strive for.”

“The experience is unparalleled and can only be gained from such major meets. Hearing the crowd cheer for me is an incredible feeling.”

“It’s truly special, something many don’t get to experience, so I’m taking it one step at a time and cherishing every moment.”

“Finishing second is something you have to go through; it fuels my desire to work harder during training, and I’ll come back stronger for nationals.”