Schoolboy sprint sensation Gout Gout has lived up to the hype in a successful debut at the World Athletics Championships, easing into the second round of the men's 200m.
The 17-year-old made a slowish start in his heat on Wednesday night but found his rhythm in the straight to finish third in 20.23 seconds.
It was mission accomplished for Queenslander Gout, with the top three in each heat advancing automatically to the semi-finals on Thursday.
Jamaican Bryan Levell won Gout's heat in the quickest overall qualifying time of 19.84, while big guns Noah Lyles, Kenny Bednarek and reigning Olympic champ Letsile Tebogo from Botswana also got through with ease.
'Get out there and do my thing'
"I just felt that in my heat everyone wasn't up against me, apart from the top two," Gout said after the race.
Gout Gout came third in his heat, with Jamaican Bryan Levell winning. Source: AAP / Joel Marklund / Bildbyran / Sipa USA
Gout, who is making his senior international debut in Tokyo this week, said there was "obviously" going to be expectations whenever he competes.
"So it is what it is and I just go out there and do my thing."
High on the agenda for Gout and his coach, Di Sheppard, in the next 24 hours will be doing some work on his start. "The starts obviously are not my strong suit, but as soon as I get into running, I'm chilling," he said.
"It's great to be out here competing on the world stage," said Gout, whose junior exploits have already drawn comparisons to the legendary Usain Bolt, who watched from the stands.
"I'm just happy, happy to be here, and can't wait for the semi.
"It's great experience, running against the big dogs, and I'm just excited for more."
Gout is the youngest man in the 200m field in Tokyo and the youngest man ever to be selected in an Australian team at a World Athletics Championships.
He set the Australian record of 20.02 earlier this year and has every chance to dip under the 20-second barrier later in the championships in Tokyo.
Australians Calab Law and Aidan Murphy were eliminated.
Torrie Lewis (22.56) stripped 0.13 off her personal best, finishing second in the last of six women's 200m heats to power into the semis on Thursday.
Earlier in the championships, the 20-year-old Queenslander broke her own Australian 100m record with a time of 11.08 in the opening round, but was bitterly disappointed at then being eliminated in the semis.
Countrywomen Mia Gross and Kristie Edwards were run out in the women's 200m heats.
Anavia Battle topped the qualifying sheets with 22.07 ahead of fellow American and 100m gold medallist Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (22.24), who is chasing the sprint double in Tokyo.
Australian Connor Murphy (16.58m) was 16th overall in men's triple jump qualifying, with only the top 14 advancing.
What next for Gout Gout?
The 200m semi-final will be at 10.02pm AEST on Thursday. He will likely need to dip under the 20-second barrier — something no Australian has done before — if he's to advance to Friday's final.
Should he make it all the way, you're in for a late night: that will take place at 11.06pm AEST on Friday.
The favourite is Lyles from the United States, and for good reason: he's won all three of the last world championship titles in the event.
Gout has said after Tokyo, he'll be taking a short break from competition to return to Australia for his final exams at school.
Despite the demands of his athletics training, the sprinter is known as a highly accomplished student with high grades and an interest in studying psychology.
Every session from the nine-day event will be broadcast live and free across SBS VICELAND, including the World Athletics Championships 2025 Hub via SBS On Demand, which will also feature full replays, mini recaps and Aussie Focus clips for every session.
Morning sessions will run from 8am to 1.30pm AEST on September 13–15 and 20–21, while evening sessions will be from 8pm to 11.30pm AEST each night of the championships.
