Teenage sprint sensation Gout Gout is already being touted as a future athletics great, but the Australian has no interest in challenging the world elite in Monaco last night. Gout, 17, took part in the 200m invitational race at the Diamond League meeting, and again left the field trailing in his wake.
Despite a headwind, he crossed the line to win in just 20.10 seconds. The result proved popular with the crowd at the Stade Louis II, with Gout milking the applause on his victory lap. However, he then faced questions from the media as to why he opted not to compete in the actual League 200m race.
That was won by the Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles. He bettered Gout’s time with 19.88 seconds, although the headwind had eased by the time the main race began.
“I didn’t compete in the main race because I just want to slowly get used to it, there is no point putting me in big races when I am running at the world championships,” Gout explained. “The goal now is to go out there and have a little bit of fun.”
His latest performance comes just weeks after smashing one of Usain Bolt’s records at the Ostrava Golden Spike. He clocked 20.02 seconds in the Czech Republic to better his own national record.
Prior to that run, Bolt held the record time for an event debutant. In 2006, the Jamaican legend finished his first 200m race in Ostrava in 20.28 seconds.
Despite his phenomenal start in the sport, Gout still has a considerable way to go if he’s to eventually match Bolt’s career feats, though. The 38-year-old is an eight-time Olympic gold medalist and the world record holder in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay.
His 200m marker of 19.19 has stood since 2009. Bolt has acknowledged the comparisons with Gout, though, saying earlier this year he “looks like young me” in terms of running style.