Gout Gout Finishes Sixth in Oslo Diamond League; Tebogo Wins 200m

Gout Gout has finished sixth in the men's 200 metres at the Oslo Diamond League meet, with Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo claiming victory.

Gout, making his Diamond League debut, stopped the clock in 20.60, well outside his personal best of 19.67, which is the world-leading time this season.

Botswana's Tebogo, the 200m gold medallist at the 2024 Paris Olympics, ran a season-best 19.84 with the aid of a slight tailwind (+0.2).

Tebogo, who has a PB of 19.46, slowed down in the final stages yet still finished well clear of Sinesipho Dambile (20.12) and Jereem Richards (20.50).

Gout, whose PB is a world U20 record, enjoyed the moment at Bislett Stadium, with the crowd giving him a mighty cheer before the race.

He praised Tebogo, who he regards as one of his track and field idols.

"It's a great atmosphere here, I'm excited to be here," Gout said after the race.

"This was my very first Diamond League and I thank God for this wonderful opportunity.

"Tebogo is a great athlete. I've looked up to him for a long time and he deserved the win today."

It would be unfair to suggest Gout was delivered a reality check in his first Diamond League appearance.

He is only 18 and had not talked up his chances before the meet, instead showing enormous respect for the world-class field assembled.

Gout was clearly nervous before the race, which was noticeable during his warm-up and when he stood behind the blocks.

After the starting gun was fired, he was slow to get going and found himself at the back of the field as it entered the home straight.

The Queenslander finished strongly, though, and he and his team will treat the race as a learning experience.

He will only improve with more exposure to elite competition.

"There's definitely a lot more room for me to improve but I have plenty of time on my side," Gout said.

"There's always pressure on me but all I do is try my best and keep focusing on just having fun.

"I love competing against the big boys and I'll be back for sure. I put no limits on myself."

Tebogo's advice for Gout

Tebogo knows what it feels like to be a teenage sprint phenomenon.

He announced himself on the international stage when he won the 100m at the 2021 World U20 Championships in Nairobi when he was 18.

Tebogo enjoyed a decorated junior career before converting on his talent at the senior level, highlighted by his Paris Olympic victory in the 200m.

The quietly spoken Tebogo had some sage advice for Gout as the Australian looked to make the same leap from the junior ranks.

"After the race, I wanted to talk to Gout Gout but he is so busy with all the media," Tebogo said.

'First and foremost, he should not get comfortable racing with the seniors. He still has a long way to go.

"He should by all means play with his age mates where he is a bit more comfortable because the more he runs, the more he pushes and the more injuries he is going to get.

"I hope his management, the coaches and everybody around him will advise that because that is what worked for me.

"I have seen a lot of people my age racing with seniors and then it did not go well for them."

Tebogo and Gout will face off again at the Lausanne Diamond League meet on August 21.

In the meantime, Gout will turn his attention to August's World U20 Championships in Eugene.

He has chosen to focus on the meet instead of competing at next month's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Marschall triumphs again

Gout's Australian teammate, Kurtis Marschall, made it back-to-back Diamond League wins in the men's pole vault.

Competing only three days after handing Olympic champion and world-record holder Armand "Mondo" Duplantis a rare defeat in Stockholm, Marschall triumphed in Oslo with a successful clearance of 5.82m.

The two-time World Championship bronze medallist won ahead of Norway's Sondre Guttormsen and American Sam Kendricks, who both cleared 5.72m.

"I'm over the moon with the win today," Marschall said.

"Two lucky Diamond League wins for me this past week.

"It was a very tricky wind here tonight, but I pride myself in being able to compete well in all conditions and I managed to make a big improvement on my performance here last year."

Among the other Australian results, Cam Myers was third in the men's Dream Mile, clocking 3:48.35.

Peter Bol (1:43.64) was fifth in the men's 800m, while Linden Hall was the best-placed Australian in the women's 3,000m, running 8:28.06 to finish in sixth position.