The 2025 World Athletics Championships are in full swing in Tokyo, Japan, and one Australian who has plenty of eyes on him is Gout Gout.
The 17-year-old Queensland sprinting sensation is making his senior international debut in Tokyo this week — the youngest ever athlete to compete in his event at the World Championships.
Here's everything you need to know.
When is Gout Gout competing and in what event?
Gout Gout is running in just one event at the World Championships: the men's 200 metres. He did not enter to qualify for the 100m, and is not a part of the Australian 4x100m relay team.
The semi-final will be at 10.02pm AEST on Thursday.
Should Gout Gout make it all the way to the final, you're in for a late night: that will take place at 11.06pm AEST on Friday.
How can I watch Gout Gout run?
Like every session from the World Athletics Championships this year, you'll be able to catch Gout Gout's event via SBS Viceland, where it will be broadcast live and free.
The World Athletics Championships 2025 Hub, via SBS On Demand, will also feature full replays, mini recaps and Aussie Focus clips for each session. Here's the full schedule for SBS' broadcast of the World Athletics Championships.
Who is Gout Gout up against?
Gout Gout has some strong competition this week.
The favourite is Noah Lyles from the United States, and for good reason: he's won all three of the last world championship titles in the event.
Lyles is one of 13 entrants in the men's 200m who have achieved a time of under 20 seconds sometime this year.
Gout, who holds the Oceanian record for the 200m, is sitting just outside of that barrier at 20.02 seconds.
Gout Gout won the men's 200m at the Ostrava Golden Spike athletics meet in the Czech Republic earlier this year, becoming the new Oceanian record holder with a time of 20.02 seconds. Source: AAP / AP / Petr David Josek
What would Gout Gout making the final mean?
Gout Gout qualifying for the 200m final would be an immense achievement: only three Australian men have achieved such a feat, and none have done so since 2005.
As the youngest athlete to ever compete in the 200m at the championships, he'd also be the youngest finalist in the event's history.
That distinction is currently held by Japan's Abdul Hakim Sani Brown, who claimed it in 2017 at the age of 18 years and 157 days.
What has Gout Gout said?
During a pre-race media event earlier this week, Gout Gout shared his feelings ahead of the heats.
He said a new personal best, regardless of where he ended up in the rankings, would make him a huge success in his eyes.
"It's about mentally telling myself that I deserve to be here, that I'm the same as everyone else," Gout said.
"Obviously, my first experience at this level, so I'm trying not to put too much pressure on myself.
"But also putting on enough pressure so I can go out there and run very fast and have fun with it."
Following Wednesday night's heat, Gout said there were "obviously" going to be expectations when he competes.
"So it is what it is, and I just go out there and do my thing," he said.
"I'm just 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."
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.
— With additional reporting by the Australian Associated Press
