Gout Gout Admits Feeling ‘Pressure’ as He Reacts to Tough Diamond League Debut

Australian teenager Gout Gout has opened up about his Diamond League debut following a sixth-place finish in the 200m in Oslo on Wednesday.

Gout Gout did not light it up as he has done in most of his competitions as he witnessed the gulf in class between junior and senior events.

The 18-year-old got off the blocks well but could not cope with the pace of his competitors, who included Olympics champion Letsile Tebogo.

Tebogo won the race in a season’s best 19.84 seconds while South African Dambile Sinesipho followed him in 20.12 as Jereem Richards from Trinidad and Tebogo completed the podium in 20.50 seconds.

Gout Gout, who clocked 20.60 seconds, says it was a great learning experience while hinting at having struggled with the pressure of expectations.

“It's a great atmosphere here, I'm excited to be here - 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,” said the young Australian sprinter.

“There's definitely a lot more room for me to improve but I have plenty of time on my side. 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,” he added, staying confident of better days ahead.

Gout Gout will be looking to make amends at the Ostrava Golden Spike in the Czech Republic when he will come up against the best of them all, four-time 200m world champion Noah Lyles, in the 150m on June 16.