Seventeen-year-old sprinting prodigy Gout Gout made an impressive entry onto the international athletics stage on Tuesday, June 24, at the renowned Golden Spike meeting held in Ostrava, Czechia. This remarkable event saw Gout solidify his position as a formidable athlete by setting a new Australian record in the men’s 200 meters, finishing the race with an astonishing time of 20.02 seconds. This performance was not only a personal best for Gout but also placed him nearly two-tenths of a second ahead of his nearest competitor, Reynier Mena from Cuba, who clocked in at 20.19 seconds, thereby securing second place.

In a display of athletic prowess, Team GB’s Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake completed the podium by finishing in third place with a time of 20.60 seconds. Gout’s remarkable achievement surpasses his previous national record, which he established in December, when he broke the long-standing 200m Australian record held by Olympic silver medallist Peter Norman. Furthermore, he also shattered Usain Bolt’s U16 world best time, adding another feather to his cap.

Speaking to reporters before the competition, Gout shared his excitement about sprinting, stating, “I really like getting out and getting to my top speed and holding it to the finish line. So, 200 is great, and I love it.” His passion for the sport was evident as he expressed his eagerness to compete at such a high level.

In addition to Gout’s remarkable sprinting achievement, other thrilling performances were witnessed in Ostrava. The men’s pole vault saw Olympic champion and world record holder Mondo Duplantis from Sweden continuing his reign of excellence. Duplantis cleared an impressive height of 6.13 meters, setting a new meeting record while clinching the top spot. Greek athlete Emmanouil Karalis, who took home the bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, finished second at 5.92 meters, followed closely by Australia’s Kurtis Marschall, who managed a height of 5.82 meters, securing third place after finishing sixth at last year's Olympic Games.

Not to be outdone, fellow Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra from India also claimed victory on the same day in the men’s javelin throw. Chopra’s winning throw reached a remarkable distance of 85.29 meters, achieved during his third attempt. South African Douw Smith put in an outstanding performance, achieving a personal best of 84.12 meters to take second place, while Grenada’s Anderson Peters rounded out the top three with a throw of 83.63 meters.