Gout Gout has been crowned Commonwealth Games Australia’s Emerging Athlete of the Year, capping off a sensational season that saw the 17-year-old rewrite the record books and make his mark on the global stage.
Gout’s standout moment came at the 2024 Chemist Warehouse Australian All-Schools Athletics Championships, where he shattered Peter Norman’s 56-year-old Australian 200m record, clocking a phenomenal 20.04 seconds.
At the same competition, Gout also delivered a blistering 10.04 seconds in the 100m heats, with both results coming shortly after claiming silver in the men’s 200m at the World Junior Athletics Championships.
Although unable to attend the annual President’s Dinner due to school commitments, Gout’s award was accepted on his behalf by Australian Athletics President Jane Flemming OAM.
The evening also featured the presentation of three Orders of Merit, recognising outstanding service to the Commonwealth Sport Movement in Australia and across the world.
Narelle Davis was honoured for her long-standing contribution to athlete welfare and high-performance care, having served across four Commonwealth Games as a valued member of the Performance Healthcare Team.
Renowned coach Craig Hilliard was acknowledged for his leadership and commitment to Australian athletics. Over seven Commonwealth Games campaigns, Hilliard served in a variety of roles including Head Coach, Coaching Coordinator and discipline-specific appointments across jumps and walks.
“The Commonwealth Games provide that fantastic platform for younger athletes to transition to the world stage, and without it, we would be lost” Hilliard said.
“What the Games provide, and I hope continues to provide, is the platform for our athletes to come out and find the stage and find their careers and take the leap, knowing they can perform.”
Jimmy Tansey was recognised for his ongoing engagement with the Commonwealth Games community through his role at Adidas. Over four Commonwealth Games and four Commonwealth Youth Games, Tansey was a passionate supporter of Team Members, responsible for their uniforming and outfitting prior to and during the Games.
“It’s all about the team work and I’d like to thank Craig Phillips and all the team who really helped me,” Tansey said.
“I feel very humble and very proud to accept this, and it brought back a lot of great memories.”
The Order of Merit complements Life Membership and recognises the outstanding contribution of individuals to the Commonwealth Sport Movement in Australia and across the world.
