Australian sprint sensation Gout Gout has taken to social media to celebrate his coach, Di Sheppard after being awarded as the best coach of the year.
The 17-year-old, fresh off a stunning 9.99-second run at the Australian Athletics Championships in Perth, made headlines again. It was not just for his speed, but for the emotion he shown as he embraced his coach, moments after she was named Female Coach of the Year at the 2025 Oceania Athletics Association (OAA) Awards.
It was a touching image. The rising sprint king, arm raised in triumph, paying tribute to the mentor who has quietly guided his remarkable rise.
Oceania Athletics Association (OAA) Awards.
The awards ceremony, held in Rarotonga, Cook Islands, brought together the region’s top athletes, coaches, and contributors. New Zealand’s Hamish Kerr was the Male Athlete of the Year after his Olympic gold in Paris. Australia’s Nina Kennedy received the Female Athlete of the Year accolade.
The Pacific Islands were also in the spotlight, with Samoa’s Alex Rose and Papua New Guinea’s Leonie Beu recognised for their international success.
But for Gout, the evening was about something deeper than trophies and times. It was about honouring the journey behind the journey.
While the teenager’s 9.99-second runs—though wind-assisted—electrified Perth and showed just how close he is to breaking official barriers. It was his coach’s award that truly lit him up.
The teenage sprinter has been nothing short of phenomenal this season. He already owns an Australian U20 record of 20.04 seconds in the 200m and a wind-aided 19.98, both run in Brisbane. With fluid stride mechanics, raw power, and nerves of steel, he’s earning comparisons to the great Usain Bolt—and Australian athletics fans are daring to dream.
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.
Still, behind the fanfare and fast times, there’s been a steady, guiding hand. The coach has mentored young athletes for over two decades, dedicating her career to developing talent from the grassroots. Gout’s success is perhaps her most visible testament yet.
In that emotional embrace trackside, Gout reminds the World that greatness is never built alone. It’s done in the quiet moments—on the training grounds, in shared sacrifices. Also, in the belief of someone who sees your potential before the world does.
And for once, it wasn’t about who crossed the finish line first. It was about the one who helped make the race possible.
