‘It’s something bling’: Gout Gout ready to sparkle as he enters new phase of sprint career
Dazzling in his sponsor’s tracksuit, and sparkling with an earring and two glimmering chains, sprint sensation Gout Gout told his first press conference in Melbourne his confidence is growing.The teenager spoke to a swarm of cameras on Thursday, ahead of the Maurie Plant Meet on Saturday.The major attraction of the marquee night in Australian athletics is a rematch of the 200m race against Lachie Kennedy last year, when Gout was upstaged.Gout said his friendly rivalry with Kennedy was “amazing”, but he was confident he would be able to perform on Saturday.“Knowing there’s so many people here to watch you run and watch you compete, well, it just brings out the best in you,” the 18-year-old said.
The Queenslander appeared more relaxed than ever at the press conference, his first formal media call he has ever done in Melbourne,Last year, he only spoke briefly to press following his race,“Confidence comes with, I guess, experience, and knowing I’ve done this since I was 16, 15 years old,” Gout said,“So it’s kind of nothing now,”But things have changed, and are changing for Gout.
Since he last raced in Melbourne, he made his bow at a senior international meet, at last year’s World Athletics Championships where he reached the 200m semi-finals.He has also finished school, and now trains and recovers throughout the day as a full-time athlete.“Training is definitely a lot more professional in a way, knowing that I can train a lot more efficiently, and get a lot more reps and get in the gym a bit more.So that’s definitely a major factor,” he said, looking down at the gold chains on his chest.“And, I guess, the jewellery as well … you know, it’s something bling, you know what I’m saying?”Gout said he feels he has improved since his race against Kennedy last year.
The teenager started slow and couldn’t make up the ground against his explosive opponent, finishing second in a result that shocked the capacity crowd of around 10,000.“The sprint is always a sprint, you all run as fast as you can, but I know Lach is such a great starter, so just knowing I’ve got to work my bend and as soon as I come off that bend, hammer down everything,” Gout said.“I’ve gotten a lot stronger from last year and my start has gotten a lot faster as you can see with my attempt at my season opener.”Overcoming a cold at the Queensland state championships earlier this month, Gout started well but did not hit top gear along the straight.He finished in a time of 20.
42sec, albeit with a strong headwind.Gout said he recognised this year there were now more expectations on him.“It’s definitely, you could say a bit of pressure with that, but knowing me, I love running and I’ve just got to do the best I can.“Going out there and knowing it’s a new year, it’s a new race and it’s a new competition, so [the plan is] going out there, keeping an open mindset and still heading for that win.”Gout also revealed he won’t challenge for the senior 100m at next month’s national championships, and instead focus on defending his 200m Australian title.
He will compete in the 100m but only in the under-20 category, as he did last year in Perth when he broke the 10-second barrier with excessive tailwinds.“I’m the 200-main specialist, so I’m just focusing on my 200 right now,” he said.Gout plans to run “a few” Diamond League meets in Europe this year, and a few continental gold meets overseas, on top of his main focus: the world junior titles in Oregon, USA, in August.
Transgender women athletes banned from female events at Olympics by IOC
The International Olympic Committee has banned transgender women and DSD athletes from the female category of events at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and future Games.Kirsty Coventry, the president of the IOC, said the landmark decision had been taken because “it would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category”.The IOC has also confirmed that all athletes wanting to compete in the female category at future Olympics will have to undergo a one-off SRY (sex determining region Y gene) screening to detect their biological sex. Usually that is done via an unintrusive cheek-swab or saliva test.Coventry said the decision, which applies to elite individual and team sports, was based on science and would protect the fairness and safety of women’s sport
Why Max Verstappen gave me my marching orders from a press conference | Giles Richards
In the grand scheme of things I enjoy a remarkably privileged career, paid to cover Formula One, a sport I have loved since 1976. So I am loth to complain, but was deeply disappointed when Max Verstappen chose to eject me from his press conference on Thursday at the Japanese Grand Prix over a question asked at the end of last season.Our first face-to-face in 2026 came at Suzuka when it turned out the Dutchman had a positively elephantine recollection. When he saw me he stared, smiled and declared he would not speak until I left. In the course of a brief 30-second exchange, he told me to “get out”
Rams star Puka Nacua sued over alleged antisemitic remark and biting incident
Star Los Angeles Rams receiver Puka Nacua has been sued by a woman who says he made an antisemitic statement and bit her on the shoulder on New Year’s Eve. The civil lawsuit was filed this week in Los Angeles, according to TMZ. The suit also cites gender violence and negligence.Madison Atiabi and her attorney, Joseph Kar, claim Nacua said “fuck all Jews” during a New Year’s Eve dinner in Los Angeles last year. Atiabi is Jewish and says she “immediately felt uncomfortable and emotionally distressed” when the wide receiver made the comments
Keely Hodgkinson pokes fun at West Ham over world championships stadium dispute
Keely Hodgkinson has playfully poked fun at West Ham after it emerged they could ruin London’s chances of hosting the 2029 World Athletics Championships.Sebastian Coe, the World Athletics president, has made it clear he wants those world championships to be held in September as a finale to the athletics season. However, West Ham do not want to give up the London Stadium for approximately three weeks for the event as their season will have started.Hodgkinson, who won the World Indoor Championship 800m on Sunday, made her feeling’s clear on Tuesday when she responded to a story on X saying “London’s bid for the 2029 World Athletics Championships is in jeopardy”.“The GB team will bring back more medals to that stadium than West Ham have seen in their entire history,” she wrote, before adding hand over the mouth, laughing and heart emojis
The nerdy, authentic Oklahoma City Thunder are a breath of fresh air
The relatable, endearing authenticity of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the defending NBA champions is a wonder to beholdWinter is over, though perhaps most NBA fans feel as if it’s just beginning. After a midseason slump, the Oklahoma City Thunder have won 12 of their last 13 games They’re clinging to a slim but steady three-game lead over the San Antonio Spurs atop the otherwise chaotic Western Conference. (The Lakers are good now? The Nuggets can’t find their footing? The Rockets can’t even stand up?) The Thunder’s flirtation with vulnerability was fun, but the defending champions look as invincible now as they did during their 24-1 run to begin the season. So, now as then, with nothing to criticize in the Thunder’s basketball, we are compelled to discuss their character and vibes.Reviews are usually poor
MLB 2026 predictions: are the Dodgers inevitable? Maybe not …
The World Series champions have somehow become even stronger. But there are a few teams who could stop them from retaining their titleA welcome introduction. Recent years have seen a tactical flattening of the game with the introduction of the universal DH, the banning of the shift and the three-batter minimum rule, but this adds an interesting wrinkle to game management. The league table of catchers’ challenge percentages will be fascinating. AEThe robo-ump makes me sick, but I also didn’t love the pitch clock and I could never go back to 3hr 45min games
Jon Stewart on Donald Trump’s Iran lies: ‘Our Supreme Misleader’
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? at 60: Elizabeth Taylor still crackles with feral energy
Punk masks, Walkmans and Choppers: Museum of Youth Culture to open in London
‘Audiences told us we didn’t show enough teacher sex’: how we made Waterloo Road
What does loneliness smell like? Inside the strangely soothing world of fragrance TikTok
‘On the threshold of a new age’: inside the New Museum’s $82m expansion and landmark new exhibition in New York