From schoolboy cross country champion to competing in one of the world's most prestigious races, Old Boy Charlie Sprott '21 is a reminder of what hard work and a love of sport can achieve.
During his time at BGS, Charlie was a standout in Cross Country and Track & Field, helping secure back-to-back GPS Cross Country Premierships in 2016 and 2017, winning the Open individual title in his final year, and winning the 3000 metre All Ages race at 2021 GPS Track & Field in a record-breaking 8:26.34.
His talent earned him a scholarship to study and compete for Wake Forest University in North Carolina from 2023, where he studies civil and environmental engineering. In 2024 he led his team in the 10km at the Division One National Championship, placing 32nd of 255 with a personal best of 29:21.6 and earning All-American honours; he backed it up with an even faster time in 2025.
Set to graduate this year, Charlie hopes to work on infrastructure projects in preparation for the Brisbane 2032 Olympics. He credits much of his success to the foundations built at BGS, and to Old Boys Elliot Hunt '18 and Declan Kelly '18, who he trained alongside: "Not only were they great athletes but they also took their studies very seriously, which made me value the importance of hard work from a young age."
Source: Grammar News, Winter 2026.
Source: Grammar News Winter 2026. Read the original edition