All Eyes On Australian Athletics Championships In Perth
The Australian Athletics Championships are in full swing at Perth’s WA Athletics Stadium, with all eyes on teenage prodigy Gout Gout ahead of his first race later today.
Tourism Minister Reece Whitby welcomed the championships to Perth saying it was the largest annual athletics event in Australia with thousands of competitors, spectators and officials in Perth to attend nearly 600 individual events. The events include short- and long-distance races, relays, long jump, shotput, pole vault, and hurdles.
The high-profile nature of this year’s competing athletes has led to a surge in ticket sales, as fans snap up the opportunity to watch from the stands should a new record be set.
Crowd favourite Gout Gout shot to fame after breaking a 56-year-old record in the men’s 200-metre sprint at the Australian All Schools Championship in Brisbane last year, clocking a time of 20.04 seconds and drawing comparisons to Usain Bolt.
Olympian Kurtis Marschall and Paralympians Rhiannon Clarke, Alanah Yukich, Peter Bol, Declan Tingay, Ella Pardy and Jackson Hamilton are also taking to the track and field at the championships.
Supported by the State Government through Tourism WA, the mass-participation championships event is expected to generate millions of dollars for the WA visitor economy through increased accommodation and hospitality bookings.
The championships act as a primary qualification trial for athletes wanting to compete at the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Commonwealth Games, World Athletics Championships, and World Para Athletics Championships.
Find out more and secure tickets at athletics.com.au .
As stated by Tourism Minister Reece Whitby:
“The Cook Government is extremely proud to be supporting Australia’s largest annual athletics event, and we welcome the nation’s top athletes here to Perth to compete, alongside thousands of visiting spectators and supporters.
“Mass participation events like this are crucial drivers of economic activity, bringing thousands of out-of-state visitors to WA, and boosting our tourism, hospitality and accommodation businesses.
“The high-profile nature of this year’s Australian Athletics Championships has put the eyes of the nation on Perth, as we wait with bated breath to see whether new national or world records will be set.”
As stated by Sport and Recreation Minister Rita Saffioti:
“It’s fantastic to see Australia’s next big athletes push themselves to the limits of their abilities in this crucial stop on the journey to pinnacle events like the Olympic Games.
“The WA Athletics Stadium was designed to give athletes the best chance for outstanding athletic results and has played host to many high-quality events and top athletes, and we are proud to see it utilised this week for the Australian Athletics Championships.”
https://www.wa.gov.au/government/media-statements/Cook Labor Government/All-eyes-on-Australian-Athletics-Championships-in-Perth-20250410