Gout Gout wins Diamond League debut in Monaco in 20.1 seconds, -1.9 per second headwind
Breaking the magical 20-second barrier was the plan for the 17-year-old Queensland schoolboy in the U/23 200m but the wind gods weren't on his side.
Gout was still able to showcase his class, thrilling the crowd by charging home to win emphatically in 20.10sec into a strong -1.9m per second headwind.
Just under two hours later American superstar Noah Lyles made a successful return to the 200m in far more favourable conditions than what Gout had to deal with, clocking 19.88sec into a -0.8m per second wind.
Fellow Australian Peter Bol stepped up to capture the limelight, incredibly smashing his own Australian 800m record by more than a second, clocking 1min42.55sec.
After finding himself out the back in a field, which included all eight finalists from the Paris Olympics, through the first lap Bol powered home to grab fourth behind Kenyan Emmanuel Wanyonyi who set a meet record 1:41.44sec.
Gout had been hoping to improve on his Australian record-breaking performance of 20.02sec in his European debut two weeks ago in Ostrava.
He was third as the field came around the bend before his trademark surge kicked in and he overhauled Botswana's Busang Collen Kebinatshipi (20.28sec). in the final 50m. Another 17-year-old, Naeem Jack, was 3rd in 20.42sec.
'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. 'So [I thought]: stay relaxed, stay focused, and just power through.
'I know there was a little headwind, but those are the things you've just got to compete against. Those are the things you can't control, you've just got to go out there, and try your best, whatever the conditions are, you've just got to go out there and run.
'Today was just getting really relaxed and focusing on what I have been doing in training and that is what I did and I got a win. It was into a negative headwind so that was pretty unlucky, but I was just practising what I do in training and trying to execute.'
Gout will now head home to finish his Year 12 studies at Ipswich Grammar School before setting his sights on taking on Lyles and Tebogo at the world championships in Tokyo in September.
Debut win for Gout Gout!
The Australian sprint sensation cruises to a cool 20.10 in the U23 200m at #MonacoDL 🇲🇨 to claim victory in his first ever appearance at a #DiamondLeague meeting.
ðŸ'¸ @chiaramontesan2 / Sonya Maleter for @MeetingHerculis pic.twitter.com/1o4QkjMsJK
— Wanda Diamond League (@Diamond_League) July 11, 2025
He still has time on his side to chase down Usain Bolt's record, 19.93sec, as the fastest 17-year-old in history given he doesn't turn 18 until December 29 this year.
'I haven't competed much this season since I have to go to school, I will be back on Monday,' Gout said. 'During the holidays is the time to compete for me, I come back here and get in a few good races.
'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. The goal now is to go out there and have a little bit of fun.
🗣� "I was in a go-kart on the beach."
A lot can change in a year! 😅
When asked what he was doing at this time 365 days ago, Gout Gout shared that he was out go-karting. Fast forward a year and he's become one of the world's top sprinters!
Gout Gout won the Monaco Diamond… pic.twitter.com/5ihYuV9tPa
— CITIUS MAG (@CitiusMag) July 11, 2025
'The progression is the under-23 race just getting my feet out there and obviously I am feeling very excited racing everyone out in the big league Noah Lyles, (Letsile) Tebogo, just everyone out there is fun to compete with so I just got out there (in Tokyo) and see what I can do.'
Lyles, the three-time world champion, got revenge for his defeat in Paris last year, running brilliant from lane six for a season's best 19.88sec, defeating Olympic champion Tebogo (19.97sec).
The comeback of Bol has been one of the feel-good stories of the year.
After finishing fourth at the Tokyo Olympic Games, Bol lost his way following a drug scandal where he was ultimately cleared. But he was a shadow of his former self – he was run out in the heats at the Paris Olympics – until this summer in Australia.
The 31-year-old, who became a father last year, set a New Australian record (1:43.79sec) in Perth in April to announce his return with the performance in Monaco confirming he will again be in the medal mix in Tokyo.
In the women's 1000m, Olympic silver medallist Jessica Hull rode a fast pace before finishing third in an Australian record 2:30.96sec behind Kenya's Nelly Chepchirchir (2:29.77sec). Melbourne's Sarah Billings was seventh in a personal best 2:33.17sec.
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