Gout Gout’s parents reveal their record breaking son’s real name and explain how the star Aussie sprinter’s identity had been mixed-up
- Australian sprinter Gout Gout powered his way to break a 56-year-old record in the 200 meters
- He became the fastest 16-year-old in the world over the distance
- But his father has revealed that Gout Gout is not the sprinter’s real name
The father of Australia’s most exciting sprinter has revealed his son is not in fact named Gout Gout, claiming there has been a mix-up over his identity.
It came as the 16-year-old, from Queensland, broke Peter Norman’s 56-year-old Australian All Schools Athletics Championships record in the 200m final on Saturday.
The young Aussie star powered his way to the finish, clocking a record time of 20.04 seconds, breaking the record that has stood for more than half a century. For perspective, Usain Bolt holds the world record for the 200 meters with a time of 19.19 seconds.
But speaking to Channel 7, the sprinter’s parents explained that his name is not really Gout Jout, but actually Guot.
His father, Bona, clarified that the sprinter’s name is pronounced “gwot.”
He claims a spelling error by the Sudanese government caused the mistake after his family fled the country for Egypt.
Australian sprint sensation Gout Gout’s father has revealed his son’s real name
Bona, the sprinter’s father, claimed that his son’s name was not actually ‘Gout’, stating that his name is in fact ‘Guot’ and pronounced ‘gwot’
It came after he broke the 56-year-old Australian record and became the fastest 16-year-old in the world in the 200 meters
They initially planned to move to Canada, but Australian government documents arrived first, so they opted for a move down.
“His name is Guot, it should be Guot,” Bona said Channel 7.
“When I see people calling him Gout Gout, I’m not really happy for him.”
Bona also referred to the disease gout, the inflammatory arthritis disease that can cause pain and swelling in the foot.
“I know gout is a disease name, but I don’t want my son to be called a disease name… It’s something that is not acceptable,” he said.
“It’s very important culturally and especially when (family) see Guot Guot running, they feel connected to the name, but when they hear Gout Gout, they lose the meaning of it.”
As his profile grows, the sprinter has noticed many comparing himself to Jamaican sprint giant Bolt.
His father added that he will soon try to change his son’s name back to the correct spelling.
After the race, the sprinter celebrated with his manager James Templeton (left) and coach Di Sheppard (right)
“It doesn’t matter to me what you want to call him,” Bona said.
“Let them call him (that), but for myself I know his name is Guot, that’s what I know. His mother calls him Guot and here I call him Guot.’
The Ipswich product has set the athletics world on fire with his lightning speed, which saw him run the fastest 200 meters ever run by a 16-year-old.
His time in the 200 meters makes him the sixth fastest athlete in the world in the 200 meters under 20 years of age.
He achieved victory together with his coach Di Sheppard, who discovered the young talent when he was in grade seven.
“I’ve been chasing that record…I didn’t think it would come this year!” said the sprinting ace after the race.
“As soon as the gun went off, I flew.
‘It’s quite crazy. I can’t really process it right now.
His time of 20.04 also surpasses Usain Bolt’s 20.13 when he competed in a U18 race in Barbados in 2003.