‘Next Usain Bolt’ Gout Gout to make senior debut at huge event but won’t take part in 100m
Gout Gout has been named in Australia’s team for the World Athletics Championships.
It will be the teenager’s first appearance at a senior global event after he burst onto the scene last year.
Gout caught the eye after clinching silver at the Under-20 World Athletics Championships in Peru.
His performance at the event saw the youngster compared to eight-time Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt.
He is now set to make the step up to the senior event in less than two weeks.
The championships take place in Tokyo, Japan from September 13 to 21.
Gout will be amongst the Australian athletes eyeing gold at the National Stadium.
However, fans hoping to see him in a range of sprint events are set to be disappointed.
The 17-year-old will only compete in the 200m as school commitments have kept him out of the 4x100m relay.
Meanwhile, he also misses out on the 100m after not appearing in the event at the national championships.
That event served as a qualifier for this month’s worlds in Japan.
Despite that, Gout will still be aiming to become Australia’s first-ever 200m world champion.
To do so, he must overcome 100m Olympic champion Noah Lyles, who has claimed victory at the last three World Athletics Championships.
Gout’s appearance comes after he set a new national record in the 200m in June.
His time of 20.02 seconds would have been enough to finish fourth at the 2023 World Athletics Championship.
It also saw the sprinting sensation break the Oceania record in the event.
When will Gout be in action?
Still only 17, Gout will not turn 18-years-old until December as he prepares for a first shot at global gold.
He will feature in the 200m heats on September 17, hoping to qualify for the following day’s semi-finals.
The final of the 200m is then set to take place on Friday, September 19.
Each of the heats, semi-finals and final in the event will be held during the evening sessions on their respective days.
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