){kind=small}
LaLiga){kind=logo}
VAL
){kind=logo}
ESP
){kind=small}
Ligue 1){kind=small}
FCN
){kind=small}
PSG
){kind=small}
Premier){kind=small}
MCI
){kind=small}
AVL
){kind=small}
BAR
){kind=logo}
MLL
){kind=small}
Premier){kind=small}
AFC
){kind=small}
ULS
){kind=small}
Serie A){kind=logo}
TOR
){kind=small}
UDI
){kind=logo}
PAR
){kind=logo}
JUV
){kind=logo}
GEN
){kind=small}
LAZ
){kind=logo}
CGL
){kind=small}
FIO
){kind=small}
ATH
){kind=logo}
LAS
){kind=logo}
CEL
){kind=logo}
VIL
){kind=small}
ARS
){kind=small}
CRY
){kind=logo}
ALA
){kind=small}
RSO
){kind=logo}
GET
){kind=logo}
RMA
){kind=small}
GOM
){kind=small}
FCT
){kind=logo}
LEG
){kind=small}
GIR
){kind=small}
OSA
){kind=logo}
SEV
){kind=small}
ATM
){kind=small}
RAY
){kind=logo}
BET
){kind=small}
VLL
){kind=small}
Bundesl){kind=logo}
VFB
){kind=logo}
HDH
)
Discover the little-known woman behind the remarkable success of Australian wonderkid Gout Gout who has made headlines yet again after running a sub-10 in 100m this week.
Australian wonderkid Gout Gout is basking in the glory of his sub-10 seconds run at the Australian Athletics Championships in Perth on Thursday.
Gout Gout continues living up to the hype after clocking 9.99 seconds in the Under-20 100m heats, although his time did not count as he had a wind of +3.5 metres per second, when the standard should not be greater than +2.00 metres per second.
The 17-year-old, who has earned comparisons with Usain Bolt, then clocked 9.99 seconds in the final two hours later but unfortunately, the wind was +2.6 metres per second, denying him an official time yet again.
PAY ATTENTION: Stay updated with the Latest Sports News from Pulse Sports.
That is just the latest in a catalogue of junior records set by the sprint kid, who also has an Australian record of 20.04 seconds in 200m, clocked in Brisbane in December 2024, and a wind-assisted 19.98 seconds over the distance, also clocked in the same city in March 2025.
Gout Gout’s rise to prominence has left Australians delighted as they believe they have a massive talent on their hands who is going to dominate sprints in years to come.
While the teenager is blessed with talent, his success has been aided by the guidance of his coach Diane “Di” Sheppard who has quietly gone about her business as her protégé hogs the global spotlight.
Who is Di Sheppard?
)
Di Sheppard is a veteran Australian coach who has been working with young sprinters for over 20 years.
She started coaching in 2003 after moving to Ipswich from Sydney in 2001 and has been working at the Ipswich Grammar School in Queensland, helping shape the careers of young sprinters at the institution.
Di Sheppard began as a high jump coach before diversifying into other athletic disciplines, including hurdles and sprints, and has also worked with Fast Track Athletics.
Di Sheppard’s coaching philosophy
)
According to Australian Athletics, Di’s journey into coaching started with an instinctive ability to observe and understand athletes, an approach that has defined her career.
She values the building of effective relationships and she likes doing so with a level of honesty and integrity which has drawn athletes to her.
Since she works with young athletes, she is upfront with parents and likes to keep a distance with them so that she can have all the time to focus on developing the athlete.
If the parent is a control freak, she would not take up the athlete as she likes to be fully in control and also let the runner be responsible for their actions.
Di Sheppard’s journey with Gout Gout
)
Gout Gout made headlines in 2022 aged just 14 , he set new Australian Under-16 records in both 100m and 200m and by this time, he was already working with Di Sheppard, who discored him aged 13, having met at Ipswich Grammar School, where the young sprinter studies.
Once she realised she has a great talent on her hands, the tactician began shaping the young runner into the superstar that he is becoming.
After every record that he sets, Di Sheppard is always there to remind Gout Gout that he has not started yet, something that keeps the teenager grounded.
She believes each competition is a stepping stone to the next one not a time to bask in glory and this approach puts Gout Gout under pressure to deliver in the next event and not sit on his laurels.
Awards won by Di Sheppard
)
Di Sheppard has taken her athletes to various competitions around the world and her efforts in nurturing talent has won her awards among them Coach of the Year in the 2015/16 City of Ipswich Sports Awards and was also named Queensland Coach of the Year in 2024.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)