Gout Gout News 2026: Australian sprinter on American 60 Minutes program, coach Di Sheppard comments

Australian sprinting sensation Gout Gout and his long-time coach, Di Sheppard, have given a rare glimpse into the teenager on a major American platform.

The pair sat down with the US version of 60 Minutes on Monday (AEST) to pull back the curtain on one of the most unique and successful partnerships in global athletics.

Sheppard admitted the only time she would intervene and get her superstar sprinter in trouble is if a "girl she didn't like" was distracting the 18-year-old from training.

Advertisement

READ MORE: 'Been a lot of backlash': Origin topic star is sick of

READ MORE: Webber hits F1 between the eyes with Verstappen message

READ MORE: Tennis mourns after death of Aussie grand slam hero

"I think the only time we'll have trouble is if it's girl that I don't like," quipped Sheppard.

"I'd go to (Gout's) mum, 'She's gotta go!"

Jon Wertheim - the reporter on the profile piece - described Sheppard as a "grouchy grandma," the no-nonsense woman in a visor who keeps the hype from inflating the Aussie teenager's ego as talk of Olympic gold medals rage on.

"If you worry all the hype is enough to inflate the ego of a teenager, don't," Wertheim says in the 60 Minutes program.

Advertisement

"Note the woman in the visor. This grouchy grandma is about to break up all the fun, that's Di Sheppard, Gout's coach, the only one he's ever had."

During the interview, Gout recalled his first meeting with Sheppard at school with a mix of awe and intimidation.

"People would be scared of because she's 'cranky', people say," said Gout.

"Me being a 12 or 13-year-old kid, I'm like, 'Am I getting in trouble? What's going on?'

Advertisement

Advertisement

"She calls me over and she's like, 'You should come to track and field training."

Gout admitted the dynamic between himself and Sheppard is a unique one on the athletic circuit, but the two "wouldn't have it any other way".

"It's a pretty crazy dynamic when you think about it. The old white lady and the young black kid, you know," Gout said further.

Advertisement

"It's a crazy dynamic but turns out it works perfectly. I wouldn't have it any other way.

"It's straight out of a movie. Our personalities filter off each other."

For Sheppard, the realisation that Gout was a once-in-a-generation talent was instant.

Recalling the first time she saw him run, she described it as a "gut punch."

Advertisement

Advertisement

"I looked at him and just went 'Oh my god'," said Sheppard.

"Gut punch, it was just like this kid's the real deal. I was talking to the junior school headmaster and I said, 'Watch I'm going to make him a champion.'

"He thought I was mucking around."

Advertisement

Despite the meteoric rise, both coach and athlete are prioritising longevity over short-term glory.

Gout is set to skip the upcoming Commonwealth Games to focus on the World Junior Championships in August, aiming to upgrade the silver medal he secured in 2024.

The focus remains on progressing his development properly, rather than over-training a growing body.

Advertisement

Advertisement

"You want to run as fast as possible but you don't want to overload as a teenager because then that messes up the rest of your career," Gout said.

"You just increase the intensity as his body matures … he will just naturally start to go quicker as the body develops, brain develops, everything ties in," Sheppard added.

"Our biggest and weakest thing is his starts, but that's a physical thing … he doesn't have full control of the limbs, they're not fully synced yet."

Click here to read article