The remarkable Gout Gout story continues with another blistering performance to further his European track education in Monaco.
Guesting in an invitational 200 metres at the prestigious Diamond League meeting at the Stade Louis II in the principality during his school holidays on Friday, the teenage phenomenon raced away to another striking win in 20.10 seconds into a headwind.
The 17-year-old Queenslander, who had enjoyed a remarkable European debut when he clocked an Australian record 20.02s in the Czech town of Ostrava just over two weeks ago, may have challenged the 20-second barrier again if not disadvantaged by the 1.9m/s wind in his face.
But he was delighted to maintain his European unbeaten record as he sped away off the bend to leave South African Naeem Jack (20.42s) and Botswana’s Busang Collen Kebinatshipi (20.28s) trailing in his wake.
“My top-end speed is my secret, so I’ve just got to focus on the first 100, first 50, and once I get out of that bend, I know I can run people down,” Gout said afterwards.
“So stay relaxed, stay focused, and just power through.”
The youngster will now head back to school in Queensland after his enjoyable first experience of top European meetings, with his first trip to a senior world championships in Japan in September very much still on track.
“I am pretty satisfied, I just got told that it was into a headwind,” he said. “I ran pretty decent so I am happy with that. I haven’t competed much this season since I have to go to school, I will be back on Monday. During the holidays is the time to compete for me.”
This was Gout’s first taste of the atmosphere at a big Diamond League meeting, one of the most high-profile on the circuit, but he had no intention of making his debut in the League 200m race, which was won by Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles in a sizzling 19.88s, also into a slightly less strong 0.8m/s headwind.
“I didn’t compete in the main race because I just want slowly to get used to it, there is no point putting me in big races when I am running at the world championships,” Gout said. “The goal now is to go out there and have a little bit of fun.”
