Sport
16 May, 2025
Charlie Sullivan in the lane of success following Stawell Gift appearance
Maryborough sprinter Charlie Sullivan has had an exceptional 2024/25 campaign, culminating in an appearance at the Stawell Gift where he squared off against teenage sensation Gout Gout.
Starting his sprinting journey at Maryborough Little Athletics Club, the 14-year-old said the influence of some local and international heroes inspired his love for sprinting.
“I started little athletics seven years ago in Maryborough and I’ve started to get more into it in the past three years,” he said.
“I was just watching my two older siblings who did little athletics and watching Usain Bolt.”
Considering Sullivan shares the same birthday as the Jamaican superstar, it almost seemed destined the teenager would be a speedster on the track.
Sullivan already boasted an impressive resume before the 2024/25 season, earning bronze in the men’s under 14 4 x 100 metre relay at the 2023 Australian Junior Championships and winning the U18 boys 120 m at the 2024 Maryborough Gift.
The teenager certainly added to his accolades last season.
After starting his season with a race meet in England, Sullivan finished third in 14 year boys 100 m at the 2024 School Sport Victoria State Championships before winning the male U16 100 m at the 2025 Country VIC Championships.
Sullivan also finished fifth at the 2025 Little Athletics and Athletics Victoria State Championships in his pet event, the 100 m, for his age group.
Even when he’s competing at such high-stakes events, Sullivan said the pressure of performing doesn’t phase him.
“I just think of warming up, getting into the blocks and going, I don’t think about it too much,” he said.
“Once I’m behind the blocks, I don’t do much thinking, it’s just muscle memory from there.”
However, the biggest stage was yet to come for Sullivan, as he entered multiple events at the prestigious Stawell Gift, including the 120 m open Mens event.
Sullivan was drawn into heat 21 alongside 17-year-old Gout, who has taken the Australian athletics scene by storm.
Gout broke Bolt’s U16 200 m world record in December 2024 and won the open 200 m at the Australian Athletics Championships the weekend before the Stawell Gift.
While Sullivan was unable to advance past the heat, finishing in sixth, he said the atmosphere and feel of the occasion is something he’ll cherish forever.
“Running in the Stawell Gift against Gout Gout was a highlight, that was pretty big, now I can say that I have raced against him,” he said.
“It was good to run against quicker athletes, especially against adults. I knew that I wasn’t going to win, but it was a good experience to have.
“It’s been more of a recent thing, me coming across gifts, but one day I would like to win it.”