Olympic men’s 200m sprint champion Letsile Tebogo believes Australian teenager Gout Gout has the potential to secure a place in athletics history if he maintains his level of motivation.
Both athletes will appear at the Maurie Plant meet in Melbourne on Saturday, though they will not compete against each other. Tebogo has opted for the 400m, while Gout will race in the highly anticipated Peter Norman Memorial 200m, where he will face Australia’s fastest man Lachie Kennedy and national champion Calab Law.
Gout made headlines in December by breaking Norman’s long-standing Australian record with a time of 20.04 seconds. Tebogo, who triumphed in the Paris 200m final by defeating Noah Lyles and Kenny Bednarek with a time of 19.46 seconds, praised the young sprinter’s technique, calling it “top notch” and predicting that he could be “the next big thing” in Australian athletics.
“He has the potential to be one of the best. If he continues with the hunger and dedication he has now, he could go very far,” Tebogo said.
However, he also advised caution, suggesting that at just 17 years old, Gout should not rush into competing against senior athletes too often.
“My advice to his coach and those around him would be to pace his progress carefully. Even if he can beat these seniors on Saturday, it’s important not to overexpose him at this stage,” the Botswana sprinter noted. “If he beats the seniors, what’s next? It’s important to keep him grounded, allowing him to develop within his age group before stepping up gradually.”
The Melbourne meet will also see an exciting matchup between Gout and Lachie Kennedy, the world indoor silver medallist in the 60m. Kennedy, who clocked 10.03 seconds in the 100m earlier this month, hopes to break the 10-second barrier on Saturday and improve his personal best of 21.19 seconds in the 200m.
“I just want to see where I stand compared to someone like Gout, who is already close to the 19-second range,” Kennedy said.
The event’s packed schedule includes the John Landy Memorial men’s 1500m, featuring Cameron Myers, Olli Hoare, Peter Bol, Adam Spencer, and 15-year-old Kiwi sensation Sam Ruthe, who recently became the first 15-year-old to run a sub-four-minute mile.
Eleanor Patterson will compete in the women’s high jump just a week after claiming silver at the world indoors, while the women’s 1500m will feature Olympians Linden Hall, Claudia Hollingsworth, and Abbey Caldwell.
With ticket sales up nearly 50% from last year, an estimated 10,000 spectators are expected at Lakeside Stadium for the highly anticipated event. The rise in interest is seen as part of a broader golden era for Australian athletics, with strong performances at both the Olympics and the World Indoor Championships.
The surge in Australian talent, including standout athletes like Gout, has helped attract new fans and commercial opportunities to the sport. Officials remain mindful of balancing expectations, recognizing that Gout is still a young athlete completing his education. Their primary focus remains on supporting him to reach his full potential while ensuring his long-term development in the sport.
