12 June 2026
The Botswana sprinting superstar was the only man to dip under the 20-second mark, clocking a 19.84 for the win. Gout struggled out of the blocks and couldn’t recover, going 20.60.
Reigning Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo is still the man to beat in the 200 metres.The Botswana sprinting superstar reigned supreme at the Oslo Bislett Games Diamond League on Wednesday (10 June), his 19.84 easily giving him a victory in the men’s final.
Sinesipho Dambile of South Africa was second at 20.12, while the highly-anticipated Wanda Diamond League debut for Australia’s Gout Gout didn’t turn out as the 18-year-old had hoped. Unable to recover from a slow start, clocking a 20.60 for sixth place, he finished nearly a second off of his own world leading mark of 19.67 seconds from April in Sydney.
“Definitely not what I imagined,” said the young Aussie of his Diamond League debut. “I imagined victory myself, but definitely can’t be disappointed. It’s my first Diamond League, so I’m going out here, having a bit of fun and then getting back to training.”
For his part, Tebogo shaved over a tenth off of his own season’s best, having clocked a 19.96 at Rabat late last month. Bolting out of the blocks to lead from the gun, he never looked too pressed on his way to victory.
“Yesterday, during the rainy weather, we practised the bend over and over and over to make sure that we got it right for today’s race,” he told reporters in the mixed zone. “It was a bit cold and running at 19.8 in this weather is some crazy business for me,” he added, seeming to have shocked himself with the time. “I’m happy that I managed to finish healthy, and I’m looking forward to the next one.”
Gout had told reporters earlier this week that Tebogo had long been a hero of his.
“When I started doing track and field, it was this guy – Tebogo,” the Australian said with a beaming smile, sat alongside the Botswana national at a press event.
Oslo Diamond League 2026 – Men’s 200m result
1st – Letsile Tebogo (BOT) – 19.84
2nd – Sinesipho Dambile (RSA) – 20.12
3rd – Jereem Richards (TTO) – 20.50
4th – Reynier Mena (CUB) – 20.53
5th – Timothe Mumenthaler (SUI) – 20.58
6th – Gout Gout (AUS) – 20.60
7th – Andreas Ofstad Kulseng (NOR) – 20.71
8th – Xavi Mo-Ajok (NED) – 20.89
Source: https://shorturl.at/MtIe7
Didn’t expect Gout Gout to finish sixth. What do you think went wrong for him?