BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Gout Gout says he'll have to withdraw from the world junior championships after straining his hamstring in training, a decision that takes one of the rising stars of track and field out of next month's meet.
"Unfortunately I suffered an injury to my left hamstring last night at training in Brisbane," the 18-year-old Australian sprinter posted on Instagram on Thursday. "I received this morning the MRI report, unfortunately the news is not good and I will not be able to compete in Eugene."
Gout said his focus now was on rehabilitation for the hamstring tear and he planned to "come back in 2027 better and stronger and faster."
"I have no other possibility but to accept this situation. I understand this is part of athletics."
Gout has already spent time training with Olympic gold medalist Noah Lyles and has set an international record faster than Usain Bolt could produce at the Under-20 level. He was a strong favorite for gold at the Aug. 5-9 world juniors in Eugene, Oregon.