'Looking forward to our next race': Lachlan Kennedy opens up on rivalry with Gout Gout after historic run
Lachlan Kennedy has lifted the lid on his "friendly rivalry" with Gout Gout after beating his rival to running a legal sub-10-second 100-metre sprint at the Kip Keino Classic.
On Sunday (AEST), the Brisbane sprint sensation became just the second Australian to break the iconic 10-second barrier over 100 metres in legal wind conditions when he clocked 9.98 seconds in Nairobi, Kenya.
At 21 years of age, there is a four-year age gap between Kennedy and fellow Queenslander Gout. However, this matters little when both are making waves in international athletics.
READ MORE: What Gout Gout texted Kennedy after star's sub-10 stunner
OPINION: Verstappen risks tarnishing incredible legacy with F1 antics
READ MORE: Galvin reveals when he met Gus in first tell-all interview
Lachlan Kennedy after winning the 100 metres and running the first sub-10-second time of his career at the Kip Keino Classic.. Getty
A rivalry between the two has been building for several years, with both athletes using the competition to push for new heights in Australian and international sprinting.
Because of Gout's youth, the pair have previously been separated by age categories for different events, however as Gout's profile grows and he enters the open field, the pair are starting to face off on the track more regularly.
They have raced each other in several events over the years, with their rivalry becoming particularly prominent in 2025.
In March, at Melbourne's Maurie Plant Meet, Kennedy edged Gout in a thrilling 200m race.
A fortnight later, at the Australian athletics championships in Perth, the highly anticipated 200m rematch was curtailed when Kennedy was disqualified for a false start.
Both athletes competed in the Stawell Gift on the Easter long weekend but were eliminated in the semi-finals. This poured cold water on the potential for a blockbuster clash in the final.
Lachlan Kennedy and Gout Gout embrace as the latter celebrates winning the open-age 200m title at the 2025 Australian athletics championships. Getty
Gout twice broke the 10-second barrier at the Australian athletics championships, but the efforts were achieved with illegal tailwinds. He twice ran a wind-assisted 9.99 seconds in the under-20 100m heats and the final.
He also cracked the 20-second barrier in the final of the open-age 200m in Perth, but was again assisted by too strong a tailwind.
Speaking on Nine's Today, Kennedy said that while the pair are highly competitive on the track, there is friendship and mutual respect off it.
"We're quite friendly, we're quite close," he said.
After his historic run, Kennedy received a congratulatory message from Gout, a support that has become commonplace in their relationship.
"He was very nice, sent me his congrats, and [said] he's just looking forward to our next race, and so am I," Kennedy said.
"It's going to be a cracker. We just keep raising the bar for each other.
"I think it's definitely competitive but it's a friendly rivalry."
The pair are next set to face off in the 200m event at the Ostrava Golden Spike meet in the Czech Republic later this month.
"It should be rapid," Kennedy grinned.
