According to The Age, superstar teen sprinter Gout Gout has agreed to take part in this year's Stawell Gift.
The Victorian country event has played host to some of the world's greatest athletes like Asafa Powell and Kathy Freeman and Gout Gout's name will seemingly be added to the list this year.
Pen has yet to be put to paper but Gout has reportedly agreed to participate in the highly anticipated event. The race which is held annually at Stawell's Central Park over the Easter long weekend, features a unique 120-metre handicapped format, with a lucrative $40,000 prize awaiting the winner.
Gout is undoubtedly the title card of Australian if not world athletics at the moment. His blistering speed has generated immense buzz, even catching the attention of 100-metre world record holder Usain Bolt. Bolt, recently took to Instagram to praise Gout, saying "he looks like young me."
The Brisbane native recently made history by breaking a 56-year-old national record in the 200-metre event. The record, set by Peter Norman at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, stood at 20.06 seconds for over five decades. Gout stunningly beat this longstanding feat with an impressive time of 20.04 seconds.
Gout's recent performances on the track have cemented his position as one of Australia's quickest sprinters. But his chances of winning the Stawell Gift will pose a separate challenge due to the significant starting handicap he's likely to receive.
Two-time Stawell Gift winner Josh Ross is the most recent athlete to have won from a scratch mark. Gout may face a similar challenge, given his current form.
