Gout Gout has been told his life will never be normal(Image: Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Gout Gout’s coach Di Sheppard has warned him that a typical teenage lifestyle is unlikely due to his demanding athletic commitments.

The young star has already clinched a national championship and is on the fast track to international fame in athletics.

Yet with his rising success comes significant sacrifices, as coach Sheppard emphasizes the need for Gout to forget about normal social activities to achieve further victories.

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Speaking to The Guardian, Sheppard praised the 17-year-old’s “emotional intelligence” but stressed that his “massive ability” means he’ll have to give up certain freedoms.

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She said: “I’ve been telling him for a couple of years that when we get to a set point, your social life will be pretty much non-existent, in the sense you just can’t go out where you want. It’s tough, especially considering he’s still in school.”

Sheppard has encouraged Gout to stay focused on his long-term objectives, particularly the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane, where he aspires to sweep the medals and shatter records.

She added: “Things will plateau, that’s a natural part. It has to come to a, ‘Bang, OK, now we’ve got to find our next adaption phase to go up.’

Gout’s coach Di Sheppard has warned the track star he won’t have a normal social life(Image: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

“For us to go to the top – we’re still a long way from there – and because we know that’s our end goal, we don’t get too wrapped up into the good things that come. They’re stepping stones, and that’s how I’ve tried to teach Gout. There’s no clear path up.”

As Gout sets his sights on the Olympic Games, he’s also aiming to topple Jamaican sprinting legend Usain Bolt’s 100m records.

The teenager has already made headlines by breaking Bolt’s record for the quickest 200 metres by a 16-year-old, with a time of 20.04 seconds at the Australian All Schools Championships in 2024.

Usain Bolt holds the 100m world record – for now(Image: Mark Dadswell/Getty Images)

He surpassed Bolt’s 2003 time of 20.13 seconds and also eclipsed Peter Norman’s Oceanian record of 20.06 seconds, which had been unchallenged since 1968.

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Yet, the swift runner has his eyes set on Bolt’s iconic 100m record, having already posted two times of 9.99 seconds at the Australian Athletics Championships earlier this year.

Despite the results being unofficial due to illegal tailwinds, Bolt’s world record of 9.58 seconds — achieved at age 22 — seems within striking distance.

Given Gout’s capability of reaching similar speeds in the 100m at a significantly younger age, expectations are high that the Australian could claim the longstanding global record in the near future.